<p>I still think that, in general, this is an improvement, both from the standpoint of inclusivity, and from the standpoint of nutrition.</p>
<p>I do understand the concern about the amount of carbs in this meal, but I think it’s important to note that that’s a concern for school lunches in general, and it’s a direct result of the federal requirements. Right now the federal government requires that elementary school students get an average of 2 servings of grains with each meal, and that one of their vegetables each week should be “starchy” (their terms, not mine). </p>
<p>I know for our school, and I think think our school lunches are significantly better than they were when I grew up in the same district, this means that there are more carbs than I might serve at home. For example, the kids get a whole wheat dinner roll with any pasta dish (mac and cheese, lasagna, chicken chow mein) and crackers whenever they have sandwiches. Corn shows up as a side a lot. When they have chili and cheese enchiladas (the only thing that’s wrapped in a tortilla like the quesadillas) they have with rice and corn and fruit. </p>
<p>I think that whether that much carb is absolutely the healthiest choice is a good discussion to have, but it’s separate from the vegetarian/non vegetarian question.</p>