Would you give your child $3 for a frozen yogurt at school lunch? About This Page:

[CinderAbby]

I'm just curious if it's only me or if others agree.

Last year at school, we sold ice cream at every school except the one with the Kindergarten and First graders. I know at my school, with 2nd and 3rd graders, we had ice cream sandwiches, fudge bars, creamsicles, a popsicle option (more often than not sour), sherbert push pops and cookies and cream cones. Whichever the kids chose, it was only 75 cents. I really don't know what the other schools offered or even what the prices were. Everything was on the small side but IMO it was an appropriate size for the kids I was serving. This year, we're not allowed to have ice cream - we can only have frozen yogurt.

The other day at a managers meeting where the new Food Services Director was present (she actually called the meeting), she had full size samples of the frozen yogurt. Not only did I think it was too big (it was a 6 ounce serving - we can only serve 4 ounce refridgerated yogurt to my level), I also think it's too expensive. I can't imagine too many parents letting kids buy a $3 frozen yogurt that they most likely won't even have time to finish. A lot of parents don't have their kids buy lunch at $2.35 and they get a "full" meal for that.

So is it just me or do you think that's too expensive for a school treat - that will supposedly be every Friday and the sale benefits nobody but the town (I think they want to turn the kitchens into a for profit business).

[HiddenMickey]

Nope. That is definitely too expensive for a school cafeteria. And like you said, there is not enough time to eat one AND lunch at any school I know.

I suspect if they implement it, it won't last long.

[joelsmom]

I agree with every point you made, Darlene.
The kids wouldn't have time to finish a 6 oz. frozen yogurt. They don't need that size. And, they certainly should not need to spend $3.00 for it. That's entirely too much money for a 2nd or 3rd grader to bring to school every Friday. Goodness, you can buy a frozen yogurt at a retail yogurt place for that kind of money! It's wasteful, too expensive, and altogether unnecessary.

[Teresa]

If my kids were that age, I may allow it once or twice a year as a special "treat", but that's about it. I agree with your assessment, that sounds like too big a treat and too expensive a treat for something they won't get the chance to enjoy. I'd prefer to pay $1 or $1.50 for a 2 or 3 ounce treat than the $3 for a 6 ounce.

[Huntermom]

Strange as it sounds it would depend on the quality of the snack as well as the quantity and whether my child would eat it. My kids would seldome eat school lunches,they just weren't things we would eat (chicken nuggets, hamburgers, mac and cheese) so I would do as much as I could to feel they would get something in their bellies. If it were a good, quality, no preservatives natural yogurt, then yes. Processed crap, no.

[CinderAbby]

If it were a good, quality, no preservatives natural yogurt, then yes. Processed crap, no.

I couldn't even tell you what kind of yogurt it is. A pizza shop here in town will be providing it as well as pizza once a month (so maybe they'll be making a profit too). I've already tasted the pizza and IMO it was totally disgusting. It's not something I want to serve at all, if truth be told. I'd rather continue serving the pizza I make

[Huntermom]

If my child were going to get one, I would ask to see the ingredients. I think there is a big difference in paying for good, wholesome natural good and processed food. It's one of the reasons I won't buy a lot of snacks at WDW-too many are IMHO overpriced and overprocessed. But I love whole foods, too. We are not large eaters so what we eat is as unprocessed as possible.

[Belle320]

No. When you compare the cost of a full meal to the cost of frozen yogurt, it is too expensive. One would think you can get lower cost alternative directly from a wholesale food provider.

[bsblady01]

no that is way too much money I can buy a gallon of ice cream for that price and every student in my class could have an ice cream cone

[wishes]

I voted "maybe", and then I read your post. If this were my HS child, then that's one thing, but for a 2/3rd grader? I change my vote to "no". Not only is it too large and too expensive, but frozen yogurt is chock full of sugar, and not always a healthy alternative to ice cream. I don't think the kids that age need any of those ice-cream novelties, either. If you are going to serve some sort of frozen dessert, then I would think those small cups of vanilla/chocolate ice cream would be the best choice. I don't think they are more than 3oz. each, and they should be a much more reasonable price. That's the only treat I would have wanted my kids to have. (Although they are now 23, 21 & 16, so they eat what they want now--lol!)

[Thomhazel]

ok my background is UK but the equivalent of $3 is the full cost of a school lunch no way would I spend that on frozen yogurt.

I wouldn't let my kids buy ice cream at school though either. Too much sugar before afternoon lessons tends to effect both my boys concentration.

[Huntermom]

I was wondering if the pizza guy isn't trying to increase his profits by adding the yogurt to the menu. I am sure he sells pizza for more than the school charges for a lunch which includes milk and a fruit or veggie, right?

Can you suggest a frozen fruit puree instead? I personally would prefer than to frozen yogurt. And my guess is that the yogurt is some processed stuff that is put into a machine and frozen into soft serve.

[CinderAbby]

I was wondering if the pizza guy isn't trying to increase his profits by adding the yogurt to the menu. I am sure he sells pizza for more than the school charges for a lunch which includes milk and a fruit or veggie, right?

He probably is - and I'm sure the pizza he sells to "actual" customers is more expensive. For us, they're going to come and get our sheet pans and at least put on the dough. I think he's also going to put on the sauce and cheese but then we're expected to get at least 24 servings (at 2.35 each for maybe a 3x3 inch piece) from each tray. Our lunch does include milk and fruits/veggies but if every piece turns out okay and sells, that's $112 per tray we're bringing in. I'm sure that's profit for everyone involved.

Can you suggest a frozen fruit puree instead? I personally would prefer than to frozen yogurt. And my guess is that the yogurt is some processed stuff that is put into a machine and frozen into soft serve.

The new Food Service Director isn't listening to anyone but herself so anything that gets suggested is ignored. And you're probably right. I haven't been in the pizza place myself and considering the quantities that will supposedly be ordered for us, that's got to be the only way they can give us so much (to start at least 50 chocolate and 50 white for each of the 5 schools - none of us think they'll sell though).

[HollyH]

Too much money for something they won't have time to eat (so most of it will probably get tossed).

I can sympathize with your frustration that the new FSD only listens to herself. We have a new FSD in our district and our pk snacks went from things like fresh fruit, Cheerios and Rice Crispies to Trix, Cocoa Puffs and canned fruit. I know that our kitchen manager has spoken to her about it but she doesn't want to hear it. The funny thing is that the kids don't really like the new options. We throw out most of the canned fruit every day. I know that it costs less, but if it goes into the garbage instead of into the kids how is that good economy?

[Pax]

$3, for 6 oz. ...? Absolutely not.

For kids in 1st and 2nd grades, as you say, that's just too much in one sitting.

And for ANYone ... that's just way, way too expensive. I could get a full 48oz of Edy's frozen yogurt for $4 or $5, and they want $3 for a single-serve portion? Ugh.

School lunch programs should not be in the business of _PROFIT_ ... not to that degree.