“The Hot School Lunch” by Mrs. Estelle T. Smith, District Demonstration
Agent, Agricultural Extension Service, North Carolina State College, Raleigh,
as published by the North Carolina State Board of Health, November, 1919
A serious problem presents itself when we consider the
thousands of school children who daily depend on the box luncheon for one-third
of their food supply. So considered, it should be as important as that of
providing any other meal. That this is not the view taken by the majority of
people is, I am sure, apparent to all of us.
One of the biggest worries of the mother is what to feed the
baby, but when a child reaches school age the general impression seems to be
that he has the properties of an ostrich, and that anything that comes handy
will do for his school lunch. This is a great mistake, for the school child is
at the stage of development at which he begins to work his brain, at the same
time he must be studied and given the food which will make him grow and thrive
mentally as well as physically.
The expensive machinery of education is wasted when it
operates on a mind listless form hunger or suffering from indigestion. Much
thought must be given to the selection of food suitable for the needs of the
school child.
A well balanced selection of foods is the important
requisites of a school lunch. This does not necessitate a great variety or
quantity. The lunch should contain muscle-building and heat and
energy-producing foods. Mineral matter is also necessary as this builds the
bones and develops the teeth.
This balanced lunch can best be carried out in the “hot
school lunch.” It is impossible to make strong, healthy young animals of our
children unless we provide the right kind of food.
A cold lunch is unattractive and unappetizing. A school
lunch should please the palate and at the same time meet the bodily needs.
It has been found possible to work out a definite plan for
lessons in the preparation of practical dishes which can be used to supplement
the lunches brought from home.
Each week a committee could be appointed to take charge of
the work for that week, planning which pupils shall bring supplies, which
prepare and serve food, and which attend to clearing up. One day each week the
lesson should be demonstrated by the teacher taking 30 minutes or more, and
this lunch dish could be served each day for the remainder of the week. This
plan may be modified to suit conditions.
The hot school lunch means increased mentality, increased
vitality, better attendance, less incorrigibility, higher average in
scholarship, better team work, reaction on home life.
Experience of the Hooper School
“They are happier.” That is the remark made by the teachers
of the seven first and second grades of William Hooper School of Wilmington,
N.C., after hot lunches had been served to the children for two weeks.
This work was started last year under the direction of Miss
Annie Lee Rankin, City Demonstration Agent of Wilmington, with the cooperation
of the school officials, the parents of the children and the Red Cross.
There had been more influenza in this section of the town
and there were more undernourished children. The basement of the school was
equipped and one hot dish each day was served, hot chocolate or cream soup,
this being prepared by a committee of women from Wilmington, who were
interested, and the mothers of the children in the school, 300 to 350 being
served each day. Some thought the children would not care for soup, but after
it was once tasted there was no further trouble. By using two large home-made
fireless cookers the soup could be started the day before and finished up in a
short time. In serving, cups and bowls were carried to the room in large
baskets and the bread carried on trays. The soup was put in large pitchers and
served in the room. Each child had a sheet of paper on his desk and that
protected the food from the top of the desk. One teacher had the children ask a
little blessing before having their lunch together.
The teachers said the children attended school better after
the serving of the lunch was started. Lunch was sold to the older children, and
while the first week only $1 was collected, the second week showed $12.50 to
have been collected.
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