Parents, get the scoop on National Take Your Parents to Lunch Day!

What is National Take Your Parents to Lunch Day?
National Take Your Parents to Lunch Day is a grassroots effort to bring families together with schools to share a meal and share ideas. The signature event takes place on October 17, 2012, during National School Lunch Week. It’s a day for parents across the country to visit their children’s schools and have lunch with them in the cafeteria. The goal is to learn more about what goes into putting together a healthy lunch, and for parents and school officials to open the lines of communication so they can work together to provide kids with the healthiest meals possible. The day is sponsored by KIWI, the School Nutrition Association, the Whole Kids Foundation, and Stonyfield.

Why is National Take Your Parents to Lunch Day important?
Lunch Day is an opportunity for parents to learn more about lunchtime—from what goes into getting a healthy meal on a child’s tray, to what the day-to-day lunch experience is like. It’s also a great way to spend time with your kids and talk to them about the importance of healthy eating habits at lunch—and every meal.

How can I bring the event to my child’s school?
There are many different ways to introduce your school community to National Take Your Parents to Lunch Day. You can talk directly with school administrators—the principal or the nutrition director, for example—to explain the event and why it’s important. To help, here is a sample letter to send to officials with information on the initiative. You can also discuss it with the PTA, or get other parents together to form a committee to spearhead the event.

What if my school can’t host National Take Your Parents to Lunch Day on October 17?
It’s okay! If that date doesn’t work for your school, any day during National School Lunch Week, which takes place from October 15 to October 19, 2012, is great. In fact, schools can host a Lunch Day event any day during the school year!

What should we do on National Take Your Parents to Lunch Day—besides eat lunch?
Along with enjoying lunch with your child, take the time to check out the cafeteria offerings—are they what you expected? Do you have any suggestions or questions for the food service provider? Here are some examples of questions to ask. Talk with your kids about lunch at school—what’s her favorite meal? Does he eat everything on his tray? Here is a list of great questions to ask kids. Plus, you can suggest that your school include other fun and informative events, such as a presentation on your school’s lunch program, a talk from a guest speaker, or even music or performance from students.

What can I do to get ready for National Take Your Parents to Lunch Day?
Check out our parent toolkit that includes information on:

• What the ideal lunch tray looks like
• What exactly goes into school meals
• Recent government updates to the school lunch program
• Questions to ask your school’s food service provider
• Questions to ask your kids about their lunch experience
• A sample letter to send to school officials