One Minnesota student’s Facebook post has gone viral after she shared an image of a one school’s idea of an adequate lunch which prompted officials to issue a dismissive yet inauthentic apology.
A student at Apollo High School in St. Cloud, Maryn Holler, was feeling bittersweet last week when she received what her school found an acceptable meal for lunch.
The tray revealed a handful of baby carrots, a packet of marinara sauce and an opened hot dog bun with melted cheese.
“I thank God everyday that my family has the money where I get to go home and eat actual food,” Maryn shared in her Sept. 13 post.
“There are kids at this school who this is ALL THEY GET TO EAT, and we were given a hotdog bun with cheese. [It’s] honestly sad to know that we go to school and pay around 3 dollars for something that cost .50 cents to make.”
The post received over a thousand reactions and was shared over 900 times, with many calling the lunch a “sad excuse for a meal.”
“If your school ‘nutritionist’ didn’t notice this and who knows what else on the menu, I’m not sure I’d have much faith in their judgment going forward,” one person wrote. “The students at your school deserve so much better.”
While anther commenter added: White bread, processed cheese, carrot sticks, and sugary juice… the district nutritionist should be fired.”
The St.Cloud Area School District (only after the uproar) issued a statement to their Facebook later that day.
“Oops! We goofed. Tried a new menu item today at lunch and we hear it was not a winner! Going forward, we will gather input from our students on new menu options. Thanks for the feedback!”
Many parents were further upset by the apology that seemed to not take into account the legitimacy of the issue.
“The ‘Oops we goofed’ response is condescending and ridiculous,” one person wrote. “No sensible person could have looked at that and thought that a ‘new’ menu item. At least be honest at what it was.”
While another added that she has her children eat at school to “budget” but she expected much more.
“’Oops we goofed’? You knew what you were doing and the lack of care going into the children’s meals. When I was in school I completely relied on my at school meal to get by, I’m so grateful that was before they started doing things like this. Those poor kids.”
Holler additionally posted an update, saying how she met with her school principal about the lunch and was told she would have to meet with the district nutritionist.
“This is the start of something that could forever change my district.”