See How Badass Moms Proved That ‘Rich & Poor’ School Lunches Are Far From Equal

When their kids came home and complained about how awful their school lunches were, a group of Denver moms decided to take action. A year later, they've documented the school "food injustice" they uncovered: School lunches in the wealthier school districts were a lot more appealing than lunches in less affluent areas, even though all of the schools were public. The district has vowed to make changes. These badass moms are examples of the power we all have to make schools — and the world — better for all of our kids. Bravo, ladies. Now it's our move.

It's easy to sit around and run down public schools, declaring they're failing and just no good anymore. But moms just like us have more power than perhaps we realize when it comes to demanding the best for all of our kids.

This group of Denver moms should inspire all of us to get more involved in our kids' schools. They saw the crummy quality of their kids' school lunches and wondered if the kids in the ritzy parts of the city — like Cherry Creek and Park Hill — were getting served the same slop. So with the district's help, they spent a year going out and taking pictures of school lunches served in 16 Denver public schools. They were able to prove the schools in the less affluent areas were serving noticeably lower-quality food.

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Take a look at the difference. Here's a lunch from Kepner Middle School, which is reportedly in one of Southwest Denver's lower-income areas.

Here's a school lunch from a Denver public school in a higher-income area.

Wow. That's a pretty huge difference.

"Not fair," Anna Maria Munoz, one of the moms speaking through a translator, told Denver 7 News. "They didn't believe us, and it isn't until now that we have pictures and proof that they're listening to us."

The project started when an eighth grade daughter of one of the moms took this picture of her lunch at Kepner Middle School. 

No kid is going to eat that.

"We can say they're serving the same meals," the mom leading the research into school lunch inequity told Denver 7 news. "But the way they're serving it is different."

These moms, who represent kids in lower-income areas, say it's discrimination when their kids get served lower-quality foods in public school cafeterias, which are supposed to serve all kids equally, regardless of zip code. And we agree.

There are all sorts of benefits to kids when they get healthy, nutritious, good food at school. It keeps them healthier, helps them learn, and provides critical help for kids who are hungry. Kids who eat good food at school, according to a 2015 report from the nonprofit Share our Strength titled Hunger in Our Schools, have better attendance, were less likely to get in trouble, and perform better academically. School food is a huge influence in how well our kids do in life. And this group of badass moms is doing everything they can to make sure their kids get the best. 

We should all hold these women up as an example for every mom in America.

Here's the news report on their efforts to fight food injustice for their kids:

Embedded content: https://www.youtube.com/embed/fXXZnysdhBo

When moms get involved in their kids' schools, conditions improve for every kid. That's the real lesson here.

This group of moms, some of whom don't even speak fluent English, have made a real, positive change. Denver Public Schools executive director of enterprise management Theresa Hafner said she's going to make changes as a result of these mom's advocacy.

"I'm glad the parents brought it to our attention so we can continue to make improvements," Hafner told Denver 7 news. "I definitely don't want that to be the food the parents think students are getting."

Public schools aren't always perfect. But the idea that all of America's kids have access to a high quality education is important and the foundation of democracy, our free market system, and the ability of everyone to have an equal shot at the American Dream. It's up to every mom out there to keep an eye on, and demand better of, our public schools, not just for our own kids, but for every damn kid.

A mom on a mission is a powerful thing.

Thanks to these moms, now kids in at least six Denver Public Schools will be getting a big school lunch upgrade — and we want to send a big high-five to our fellow moms. It's not just our right to ask more of our public schools — it's our responsibility.

Thanks to these fearless moms for the reminder.

Images via Denver 7/YouTube