Some kids in a local district say they're bringing lunch from home because they're not getting enough to eat at school. Nick and Anna Ward who attend the elementary school in the Williamsburg Community School District, carefully put together just what they want to eat for lunch.
Nick says a peanut butter and marshmellow cream sandwich, raw veggies, Rice Krispie Treats, and squeezable yogurt, will hold him over, but the cafeteria meals don't give him enough to eat.
"I get a little bit hungry about a little bit after I eat, maybe like about half an hour afterwards." The sixth grader, who's about five-feet ten inches tall and weighs around 200 pounds, says he's always hungry. He takes part in several sports and says he thinks he eats a normal amount of food.
His nine-year-old sister Anna says she sometimes hears other kids complain about the size of school lunches, but she doesn't seem to be as concerned. "I think we get enough, but some people don't really eat their fruit."
In the Williamsburg cafeteria, an all-time kid favorite was on the menu on the day WTAJ visited---hamburgers and fries. Kids could also choose vegetables and fruit.
According to a 6th grader named Dante, "it was a pretty good lunch. So far, I only ate the burger and the burger was good." Then, he dabbed his fries in ketchup and said he intended to eat his cherry tomatoes and lettuce, as well.
Nick wasn't tempted. He and his friend, protesting what they see as a lack of food, sat together and ate their packed lunches. One named Noah said, "we just want the government to know that we're not getting enough food."
We asked a second boy, also named Noah, "do you feel strongly about it, are kids upset, or is just something fun to do?"
His answer: "I really don't know i think it's fun to do right now and it's fun to do with my friends since they're all doing it too."
Elementary Principal Lisa Murgas thinks the cafeteria lunches are good, and adds that the school does follow federal lunch regulations.
"I know some of them are not thrilled about that and I can understand that and I'm happy that they're expressing their concerns."
According to Cafeteria Coordinator Angela Brooks, "if you ask any students whether they want french fries or carrots then they're gonna chose french fries, but we're here to educate the kids in what nutritious meals are, as well, so we have lots of options for them to pick from."
We asked 6th grader Kassidy her opinion about the cafeteria lunches. "I think they're good." What does she think of the protest? "I don't think it's very nice because their food is not actually that bad."
The cafeteria manager says a majority of Williamsburg students-- 85-percent take advantage of the school lunch program.
The size and content of school lunches aren't just an issue in the Williamsburg Community School District. One reason students may not think they're getting enough food is that the new rules limit the maximum calories schools are allowed to offer, which wasn't the case before.
Nick says a peanut butter and marshmellow cream sandwich, raw veggies, Rice Krispie Treats, and squeezable yogurt, will hold him over, but the cafeteria meals don't give him enough to eat.
"I get a little bit hungry about a little bit after I eat, maybe like about half an hour afterwards." The sixth grader, who's about five-feet ten inches tall and weighs around 200 pounds, says he's always hungry. He takes part in several sports and says he thinks he eats a normal amount of food.
His nine-year-old sister Anna says she sometimes hears other kids complain about the size of school lunches, but she doesn't seem to be as concerned. "I think we get enough, but some people don't really eat their fruit."
In the Williamsburg cafeteria, an all-time kid favorite was on the menu on the day WTAJ visited---hamburgers and fries. Kids could also choose vegetables and fruit.
According to a 6th grader named Dante, "it was a pretty good lunch. So far, I only ate the burger and the burger was good." Then, he dabbed his fries in ketchup and said he intended to eat his cherry tomatoes and lettuce, as well.
Nick wasn't tempted. He and his friend, protesting what they see as a lack of food, sat together and ate their packed lunches. One named Noah said, "we just want the government to know that we're not getting enough food."
We asked a second boy, also named Noah, "do you feel strongly about it, are kids upset, or is just something fun to do?"
His answer: "I really don't know i think it's fun to do right now and it's fun to do with my friends since they're all doing it too."
Elementary Principal Lisa Murgas thinks the cafeteria lunches are good, and adds that the school does follow federal lunch regulations.
"I know some of them are not thrilled about that and I can understand that and I'm happy that they're expressing their concerns."
According to Cafeteria Coordinator Angela Brooks, "if you ask any students whether they want french fries or carrots then they're gonna chose french fries, but we're here to educate the kids in what nutritious meals are, as well, so we have lots of options for them to pick from."
We asked 6th grader Kassidy her opinion about the cafeteria lunches. "I think they're good." What does she think of the protest? "I don't think it's very nice because their food is not actually that bad."
The cafeteria manager says a majority of Williamsburg students-- 85-percent take advantage of the school lunch program.
The size and content of school lunches aren't just an issue in the Williamsburg Community School District. One reason students may not think they're getting enough food is that the new rules limit the maximum calories schools are allowed to offer, which wasn't the case before.
Charlotte Ames is the area's only local Health Reporter and brings you the latest medical health news weeknights. You can catch Healthcast on WTAJ News at 5:00pm and her Health Headlines report on WTAJ News at 5:30pm.