Are school lunches really much different than when I was young?

We keep talking about childhood obesity on TV and in our communities, I have to say it does worry me. I have heard a lot of judgement about what is served in schools. When I was in school we had pizza, tacos and corn, hamburgers with tator tots, hot dogs and fries, I can’t remember what else. The menu was not organic or very “healthy” but we were not heavy children. I think maybe it has to do with portion size, but I have no idea if portions are bigger in school now, and lack of exercise.

My mother let me drink coke all of the time, I came home and had whatever I wanted as a snack, there were always frozen foods, Entemann’s cookies, or I could cook something. My mom did make dinner almost every night, but again not especially healthy, but it always consisted of a veg, starch, and meat.

I really think it is a portion problem. Even as a teen I ordered just a McD’s hamburger and small fries and was full, and then all of a sudden that was for young children when they started to market it as a Happy meal.

Is it really the school lunches that need to be addressed, or everything outside of school? Don’t get me wrong, it would be great if everything was healthier in school too, but I don’t think that is the thing that has changed over time.