This news is going to make most of my mom friends cringe, since nutrition is pretty darn important to us. Kids at the Little Village Academy of Chicago (a public school, mind you) are now barred from bringing their own homemade lunches from home to eat at school—unless they have food allergies that prevent them from being able to eat what the school serves.

Not only does this mean that parents have to fork over $2.25 per day on food (double what I paid in elementary school—and more than what many parents pay on making their own wholesome lunches to send); it also means that the school is taking away what little control parents and children have in their day. They don’t get to choose what they learn about, what teachers they get, what classes they take, or even if they get to spend time being active or outdoors or stuck in a chair; at least they could choose what to eat—up until now.

The school claims that their lunches are more nutritionally healthy than what parents pack because of their “strict standards,” which don’t sound so strict to me; they have to include one vegetable, a whole grain, and only fat-free salad dressings or mayo. These aren’t that impressive, especially when compared with the lunches my friends and I make our children.

Boy am I glad that, as a homeschooler, I don’t have to worry about this.  But even my non-homeschooling friends would be outraged if this happened in our community. All of the parents who make lunches that I know send fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as creative notes, wraps, and other creations, with their kids—and for less, since they buy in bulk (some even grow their food).  Of course, there’s also the fact that kids may not like what’s offered at school; their personal preferences, I suppose, don’t mean jack to the powers that be. (Why would they, when they don’t in any other area of education, either?)

Seeing as 85% of the district qualifies for reduced or free lunches, it’s likely going to be a burden on the families that don’t qualify by a slim margin, too (we’ve been there in my family). Parents of Little Village Academy, I suggest you fight for your right to feed your children—especially if your school just crams the average greasy tots, pizza, fish sticks, and other processed crap that my school served down their throats.