photo credit: edenpictures
Back to Monday, another week, another day to compare menus between Toms River, New Jersey and Pau, France. By now these Toms River menus are quite stuck in my head. The Toms River menus are on a two-week rotation, so we are back to eating the same dishes as two weeks ago. It is getting boring to eat the same foods every other week. Or is it just me that thinks this? In France, starting next week is ”Vacances de Toussaint” or ten-day school holidays for “All Saints Day” on November 1st. So, no school lunches next week and for half the week after. Nice long break from school for the kids, too long break from school for the parents! Haha! During the time off I thought it would be fun to highlight some of the interesting dishes that are served in the Pau school lunch program. Tune in again next week to read some recipes for some of the authentic French cuisine that is served in the school lunch program in Pau, France. When school restarts again on November 4th, I will take the last seven-day comparison to look at 7 different school lunch menus from 7 different cities in America and compare to 7 different French school lunch menus from all over France. So keep coming back, lots of fun information coming! Here is the menu for Day 20:
Toms River, NJ
Served with Choice of 1 Main Dish, 2 Sides and a Half Pint of Milk
Chicken Nuggets or Ham and Cheese Wrap
R/F Doritos with Mini Carrots
Baked Apple Slices
Pau, France
Served with slices of baguette and a glass of water
Tabouli Salad
Roasted Chicken and French Style Peas
Soft Cream Cheese and a Pear
The Toms River menu has the chicken nuggets on it that the kids love…but as I have stated before: “what is up with the Doritos?” Can anyone tell me what R/F Doritos mean? Let’s get some veggies in there, especially green or orange colors! For the Pau menu,
a typical French menu, a VERY typical French lunch, something I would even serve at home…with a starter of tabouli salad (yummy, had that yesterday!), a roasted meat, green vegetable and ending the meal with cheese and a fruit. Do you all know what tabouli salad is? A very popular dish that is served in warmer weather and is a common French picnic food. Next week I will give you a recipe for a tabouli salad. A very light, healthy dish. Until then, Bon Appetit!
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About Mary Brighton
Mary Brighton, MS, RD is a registered dietitian and website developer. Living in Europe for the last 11 years including the last 9 years in France offers an international and European perspective on food, health, nutrition and European living. In addition to researching and writing on healthy living, nutrition and cuisine, Mary has nearly 20 years of experience counseling and serving clients in dietetics through private practice, clinical, outpatient and rehabilitation centers.
R/F Doritos are reduced fat (130 calories per 1 oz serving; 45 from fat) as opposed to regular Doritos (140 calories per 1 oz serving; 63 from fat.) They’re specifically marketed to schools according to this source: http://vistar.com/Customer/FlashPDFs/rfd.pdf
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mbrighton Reply:
October 28th, 2010 at 12:35
Dear Jill! Thank you so much for enlightening me…Now I understand, I will check out the link you gave. I am assuming the R/F =Reduced Fat. Will confirm. Thanks again…
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hi u say lets get some colors like green or orange,, arnt mini carrots orange,,
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mbrighton Reply:
December 7th, 2010 at 14:26
Yes, Jody…You are right! I messed up on that one….Overall it seems that the school lunches in America really lack vegetables, especially the orange and green ones! But, of course, mini carrots are a nice orange vegetable and a healthy one too. I heard they are even selling them in vending machines at school and marketing baby carrots as something “cool” to eat. And, I heard (this is on National Public Radio) that it is working! Fantastic. Thanks for your comment and I do apologize for the lateness in responding.
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