New program helps parents track school-lunch purchases

The Baltimore County Healthy Kids Coalition is pleased to note that BCPS recently signed up with mylunchmoney.com, a program that will allow parents to view online the lunch purchases of their children. Parents can also add money to their children's accounts via the site, though even if they continue to pay by check or cash they can still view purchase histories.

Parents will be able to see which entrees their child purchases, although a la carte items will, unfortunately, not be specifically identified. Parents can also use the site to opt, as they can now, to only allow kids to purchase full meals and not allow them to purchase a la carte items. If they haven't already, parents should soon be receiving specific account numbers for their children, which they can then use to register on the site.

The Coalition is delighted that BCPS's Office of Food and Nutrition has taken this step, which will empower parents and help foster communication with kids about making good choices. Please let us know what you think of the program!