Healthier School Lunches: Good or Bad?

This school year in Iowa is the first year of implementing the new, healthier school lunches. While I understand the importance of eating healthy, there are limits to what you can make thousands of children eat.

This is such a tough subject because I can see the good reasoning on both sides of the argument. I agree that children should not be eating processed foods and high calorie desserts all the time. However, my children will not eat half of the stuff on their lunches anymore. 

They come home starving. So I either have to keep extra snacks on hand or I have to send them with a cold lunch that they will eat. In our case, packing a cold lunch is not helping the family food budget. We qualify for free school lunches, so if I have to make them lunch everyday, that adds close to $200 a month just on lunches.

In my opinion, the government needs to look at the menu selections over this school year and make some major adjustments. I am sure we can find a happy medium when it comes to healthy and tasteful for the children. Many children have very bland palates. They do not like all these exotic tastes of vegetable dishes that even I have never heard of.

School Activity Costs

My husband and I have an excellent relationship. Generally we can talk things through and come to an agreement, no matter what the problem may be. On occasion we have an issue or two that requires a lot more work from each of us to solve; that's when my husband gets cranky.

He likes to have things solved right now. Especially when it comes to money, he likes to be on top of it and not spend anything we don't have to. The problem is that sometimes things that he thinks are not needed really are needed.

Which brings me to tonight's dinner conversation. Our two eldest daughters both play in the band. We bought them new shoes and performance outfits last year. These are clothes and shoes that the girls only wear to performances; which means the outfits have only been worn maybe six times. 

Problem is both girls have outgrown the outfits that they have. I suggested taking them out this weekend to get new performance outfits and my husband informs me that only the older of the two needs a new uniform. His reasoning, the eldest can pass her's down. I understand the concept of passing clothes down and the old outfits will be passed on as regular clothes. 

But really would you make one child wear hand me downs to her band performances, while the other one gets to go shopping and get a new outfit. In my opinion that is not fair, but in the interest of keeping peace at the table I simply changed the subject. I realize that it is a small thing to disagree about and he will come to his senses. It can just be very frustrating.

Labor Day Weekend: Unofficial End of Summer

By Labor day, most children are back in school and very ready for their first three day weekend. Labor day tends to be the last major camping trip or vacation for many families before school events and winter weather hit.

Most of the campgrounds in Iowa close to campers after Labor day weekend - until the following spring. The nights are starting to get cool and the days are getting shorter. These factors tend to send people running for one last dip in the pool, camp-out, or grill out; and just enjoy the time of year. 

All of the campgrounds are full for the three day weekend. If you are not on the lakes early, good luck getting out there. And if you do make it onto the lake, the crowds are terrible.

From about 10am on Labor day, the smell of grills and cook fires fills the air. Coolers filled with everything from juice to beer, and the beer seems to go the fastest. It is a bittersweet weekend for many because it is the last grill out/outing of the summer. 

But don't let it get you down now, go out and enjoy your unofficial last weekend of summer.