Are Caddo Students Getting Enough Food at School?

Pictures have been circulating about school lunches in Caddo Parish. Many Shreveport  parents say their children are not getting enough food on the plate at lunch.

One of the most widely circulated plates is from Northwood High School this week. In this photo you see a slice of ham, a roll and a circle of sweet potato. Parents have been sharing the picture and complaining about the meal served to high school students.

KEEL News reached out to Caddo school leaders who told us this is not everything that was served at Northwood. In fact they shared a photo of all of the food that was available to students.

We received this statement about the school nutrition program

"Our Child Nutrition Program works closely with parents and students to develop menus that include healthy and enjoyable food options for students. The picture that is circulating on social media shows the items that were selected by a student and not the meal that was offered during lunch. This process is called offer versus serve, which Caddo implements to reduce food waste."

What Food Was Available to Students?

"The complete meal that was prepared at Northwood included a 2-oz slice of glazed ham, 2-oz candied yam patty, ½ cup green beans, ½ cup pineapple tidbits, ½ cup sliced peaches, ½ cup grapes, butter cake with icing and 1% white milk or fat-free chocolate milk. There were enough portions for all students and the food was available until the end of lunch."

But several parents tell us the cafeteria ran out of many of the items on the menu. School officials say that is not the case.

School officials also tell us "we are actively collecting and assessing the feedback that we receive from our stakeholders and will continue working with them to guarantee that we are meeting the needs of all of our families."