The Two Lunch Catch Up Post: Nuggets and Pasta

Last week was an extremely busy week for me and after the guest blog I only got to photograph Tuesday and Thursdays lunch. Thought I'd share them anyway-  even if it is Monday May 3rd!

Tuesday 4/27: Chicken Nuggets
The menu reads as follows: Chicken Nuggets, Mashed Potato, Seasoned Veggie, Wheat Bread, Fresh Orange

What they got: Chicken nuggets, faux mashed potato, seasoned assorted veggies, a slice of wheat bread and a fresh orange.

I find it really interesting that the mash is as white as the stryrofoam plate. Just an observation!

Let's chat about these chicken nuggets again. Nutritionist Marion Nestle, who is also a professor of nutrition and public health at New York University, analyzed a chicken nugget product. It coud very well be different brand that what our kids here in Hoboken eat but I'm sure the ingredients and nutrition information would be very similar.

THE BREAKDOWN:

Ingredient list

Chicken meat, water, vegetable protein product (isolated soy protein, magnesium oxide, zinc oxide, niacinamide, ferrous sulfate, vitamin B-12, copper gluconate, vitamin A palmitate, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin), dried whole egg, salt, sugar, sodium phosphates, white pepper and onion powder. Breaded with: enriched wheat flour (flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), salt, dextrose, leavening (sodium bicarbonate, sodium acid pyrophosphate, monocalcium phosphate), monoglycerides, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, oleoresin paprika. Battered with: water, enriched wheat flour (flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), salt, whey, leavening (sodium aluminum phosphate, sodium bicarbonate), spice, garlic powder, oleoresin paprika, guar gum, breading set in vegetable oil.

THE ANALYSIS:

Nestle’s analysis of ingredients

“The first ingredient is chicken (a good sign), the second is water, and the third is soy protein plus added nutrients. Then come egg, salt, sugar and more sodium. There’s more salt in the breading and batter. Conclusion: This is a salt-watered chicken product with added nutrients and other additives that preserve and texturize. And partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, no less. Kids would be better off eating chicken, period.”

Analysis of nutrition information

“The nutrient contents don’t look bad. I think the sodium is high — 18 percent of the daily value for an adult — but I’m quite sure it meets USDA standards.”

All I would like to say is yes, the kids are better off eating just plain good old fashioned chicken. No more additives, preservatives and fillers please.

Thursday 4/29: Pasta Meat Sauce
The menu reads as follows: Pasta Meat Sauce, Whole Wheat Pasta, Breadstick, Seasoned Peas, Apple Sauce

What they got: Pasta Meat Sauce, Whole Wheat Pasta, Breadstick, Seasoned Peas, Apple Sauce

This meal looks decent except for the bread stick and chocolate milk. Apparently they ran out of low-fat milk so the only choice the kids had was Ultimate chocolate milk- lucky for them! The sauce looks home-made but I would like to confirm that it was indeed whole-wheat pasta. Either way, it seemed like the kids enjoyed the pasta and meat sauce. 

Have some interesting things happening this week but I'll fill you in when they actually materialize. In the mean time...have a happy Meatless Monday!