For the first time in a decade, parents and kids at DoD school overseas are being asked for their opinions about school lunch options.
The Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) manages school lunches at 78 cafeterias in Defense Department Education Activity (DoDEA) schools overseas. In 2016 they served 2.6 million lunches there, they said. The remaining cafeterias are managed by the other Exchanges.
School lunches cost $2.75 and $3.00 for elementary and secondary schools, respectively, with lower or no cost for the free or reduced lunch programs. Those prices have seen an increase for the past two years running. Prior to that they were $2.40 and $2.55 for several years in a row.
The survey is likely welcome by some parents and students who think the food is poor quality or not healthy, according to reporting I've done in the past.
Now the Exchange wants everyone to take the survey, including young students with a parent's help, they said. It can be accessed here through Feb. 16, when it closes.
The survey was last offered in 2009.
All school meals served by AAFES must hit a number of USDA standards that include no fried foods, no trans fats, whole grains and the inclusion of fruits or veggies. Meals also have to meet specific calorie, sodium and fat benchmarks dependent on age group.
