Cheese Sandwiches

Excerpts from the story :

The new lunchbox system was set up to enable students to purchase meals on a credit account.

Parents can place funds on that account -- via www.myschoolbucks.com. If no funds are available, it will allow the food purchase and keep track of what is owed.

Mr. Shamy said that, before he started in his position in 2012, children would pay first and then go through the cafeteria line. If a student didn’t have funds, it was not noticeable.

Now, the law requires students to gather food first and pay at the end of the line.

In some instances, he explained, if a student could not afford the lunch they selected, the cashier could switch it out for a cheese sandwich. Students in line could notice the switch.

“Students would grab all their food, get to the end of the line, and have no money,” he said. “And you embarrass them with a cheese sandwich. And then what do you do with the food on the tray? This is food hospitality. You do not embarrass them.”

The [new] law also required that government-subsidized entrees have three of the five food groups of bread, milk, vegetables, fruit, and a protein.

The district’s Mosaic system, which is new software costing $15,000, will allow students to charge up to $10 before it contacts the family for payment. If the balance increases to $20, his office will take further action and will ask the family if there are any circumstances affecting payment.

I find this whole thing offensive.

Toward cheese sandwiches.

Obviously, the school official needs sensitivity training and a cooking class to prevent disparaging cheese sandwiches in the future.

Maybe the students could maintain a produce garden and learn where some food originates. Maintain a sourdough starter. Make simple cheeses like mozzarella and ricotta. Understand the science like biology that's involved with making bread and cheese.

Naturally-leavened sourdough bread that is at least 50% whole grain combined with one or more high quality cheeses, and at this time of the year, a couple slices of a fresh, locally-grown tomato makes for a fine sandwich. Or toast it like a grilled cheese or "cheese toastwich" and add a side of homemade ketchup.

Maybe the school needs to be more creative or innovative with their cheese sandwiches.

Here's a cheese sandwich idea that I need to try with our garden / farmers market products, along with homemade peanut butter. Apparently, this was a winning sandwich.

Makes one sandwich. Layer the ingredients in the order given.

It turns out there was a secret order, after all: Cheese on top, then tomato, cucumber, onion and crunchy peanut butter on the bottom. Olesen is still mystified why the order matters so much.

Top: slice of whole grain bread
- 4-6 thin slices white sharp cheddar cheese
- Tomato, thinly sliced
- Cucumber, thinly sliced
- Vidalia or red onion, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons crunchy peanut butter
Bottom: slice of whole grain bread

#food - #recipe - #bread - #education - #humor