The LA Times reported the Los Angeles Unified School District is reviewing the impact of a newly designed “healthy” menu that was recently introduced in city schools. This new menu includes items such as black bean burgers, tostada salads, fresh pears, and various other healthy options. The District had such confidence in the program they increased their fresh produce spending from $2M in 2006, to $20M in 2010. What was the result? L.A. Unified’s Food Services Director, Dennis Barrett has called the program a “disaster” due to a dramatic drop in student lunch participation.

Why Did L.A. Unified Attempt Such a Dramatic Change?

L.A. Unified has instituted a campaign to fight obesity, diabetes and other problems associated with unhealthy food. In that effort, administrators have attempted to model the lunch offerings after the newly updated USDA MyPlate that recommends a generous serving of both fruits and vegetables at every meal. Sample community groups were offered taste tests to confirm the new meals would be well received, and it appeared all the cards were in order for a successful launch. So why is the program a “disaster?”

According to the Times, students who enjoyed the food during taste tests later hated the food once it was served on campus. Apparently the food was poorly prepared resulting in burned, hard, and soggy meals. Did L.A. Unified spend $20M on vegetables but not train the cooks on how to properly prepare the new fresh food?

What’s a shame here is this issue does not seem to be fully addressed. Rather than fault the food handlers, some schools are already balking at the new food and re-introducing the same hamburgers, pizzas, and other junk food that gave L.A. Unified a staggeringly high obesity rate. What a shame to think so much money went straight into the garbage.