STUDENTS QUICK TO EAT UP FAST-FOOD LUNCHES.Byline: Amy Raisin raisin, in botany and cooking raisin, dried fruit of certain varieties of grapevines bearing grapes with a high content of sugar and solid flesh. Although the fruit is sometimes artificially dehydrated, it is usually sun-dried. Staff Writer SIMI VALLEY Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. - The days of soggy pizza and mushy mush·y adj. mush·i·er, mush·i·est 1. Resembling mush in consistency; soft. 2. Informal a. Excessively sentimental. See Synonyms at sentimental. b. chicken nuggets in the school cafeteria have gone the way of those ``Charlie's Angels'' and ``Dukes of Hazzard'' lunch boxes. In the 21st century, it's all about McDonald's, Taco Bell Taco Bell Corp., a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc., is a Mexican-style quick service restaurant chain based in Irvine, California, United States. The restaurant has locations primarily in the United States and Canada, but also operates outlets in several other markets. and Pizza Hut. A growing number of schools have arranged with local fast-food restaurants to serve items during the lunch break that used to be associated with drive-through windows. Good Shepherd Good Shepherd [N.T.: John 10:11–14] See : Christ Lutheran School Lutheran schools and education were a priority for Lutherans who emigrated to the United States and Australia from Germany and Scandinavia. One of the first things they did was to create schools for their children. in Simi Valley began experimenting with fast-food lunches last year and now fills its weekly menu with Pizza Hut pizza, McDonald's chicken nuggets and hamburgers, Taco Bell tacos or burritos and Subway sandwiches. And the kids are gobbling it up. ``The old stuff was alive,'' said fifth-grader Jennifer Velas Velas (pron. IPA: ['vɛlɐʃ]) is a municipality in the São Jorge Island, in the Portuguese autonomous region of Azores. , giggling and munching on two Taco Bell tacos, fruit, chips, cookies and milk. ``It was nasty,'' a couple of classmates Classmates can refer to either:
While the change in menu has proved popular, the staff is quick to point out that commercial items are balanced with fruit, vegetables, crackers and yogurt snacks. ``I think we've about tripled our lunch count,'' said Diana Richwine, lunch coordinator for the 250-pupil school. ``We haven't had any negative feedback at all.'' Richwine purchases the fruit, vegetables and side dishes at local discount stores, and tries to vary what's offered. However, the kids' overwhelming favorite is pizza, served every Monday. If 80 kids usually buy their lunch each day, the staff said that pizza day surges to about 135 kids, with a weekly average of about 400 per week. Richwine explained that children who wish to participate purchase a $30 lunch card, which is good for 10 lunches. Fourth-grader Bradley Curnel said he loves pizza day and explained that the fast food is simply more appetizing. ``I like how my mom makes my sandwiches, but this stuff just tastes better,'' he said. But he did note that he often brings his lunch when the menu isn't pizza or Subway sandwiches. Schools in the Oak Park and Las Virgenes Unified School districts Las Virgenes Unified School District (LVUSD) is a K-12 school district in north-west Los Angeles County, USA consisting of 14 public schools in the cities of Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Westlake Village, and several small portions of the West Hills section of Los Angeles. are also participating in the fast-food craze, though not every day of the week. Donald Zimring, deputy superintendent Deputy Superintendent, or Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), was a rank used by police forces of the British Empire. In some territories it was called Deputy District Superintendent of Police (DDSP). for Las Virgenes, said the programs make sense, because the students like the food and it must meet the same federal health requirements as meals the districts provide. ``(The meals) are in such high demand from the kids,'' Zimring said, noting the popular lunches from Subway, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut. ``It gets the kids to participate in the overall food service system, plus they're eating their lunch.'' Ten-year-old Alyssa Ziegeler, a fifth-grader at Good Shepherd, said she's been converted from her old sack lunches to fast-food meals. ``I brought my lunch every single day last year,'' Alyssa said. ``But now I buy it every day except Wednesday, because that's just a plain hamburger.'' Richwine said the school staff began to try serving fast food when they noticed the children just weren't buying the school lunches, or if they did, they often didn't eat much. ``The food was not appealing to the kids,'' she said. ``We had to find something they could eat that would be fairly good for them.'' CAPTION(S): 3 photos Photo: (1 -- color) Taco Bell is among the fast food students are offered. (2 -- 3 -- color) Above, fourth-graders Courtney Brooks, left, Melissa Carr, Rachel Dennis and Jessi Morse enjoy their Taco Bell lunch. At left, fourth-graders Kindall Piper, left, and Caitlin O'Donnell give their meal ticket to a cafeteria worker in exchange for their fast-food lunch. Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News |
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