Interview with Mrs. Q, a Dedicated Teacher, Blogger and School Lunch Customer

The LunchBox team is proud to introduce Mrs Q, our latest Lunch Box Hero: an ordinary/extraordinary woman, who works hard, believes she is just like you and me, but is making a major difference in school food through her actions. She has committed herself to eating school lunch every school day of 2010 and documenting her meals in a blog. Who is Mrs Q? She is anonymous, a teacher in public schools and self-proclaimed “Fed Up With Lunch”.

LB: What motivated you to start this project?

Mrs Q: I was shocked by what the kids were eating at school and that it was being passed off as food – there needs to be a record of this.

Where Mrs Q works as a teacher, most of the kids are financially disadvantaged and they depend heavily on school food. Surprisingly, one of the things that she learned while writing her blog, is that the majority of schools serve food similar to what she is eating.

LB: You are raising awareness about the National School Lunch Program and you have poured hours into your blog which is so informative, if you could pass one message on to everyone in America about the program, what would it be?

Mrs Q: We cannot feed kids highly processed foods, especially in low-income families, but that’s what’s happening. If you’ve never been poor, you really can’t imagine the struggles. Most people in tough situations that I see are doing their best. Lately the numbers of children depending on school lunch because they are eligible for a free or reduced price lunch have only been going up.

LB: What has been the most difficult aspect of the whole project?

Mrs Q: Time management. I have a young son, a full-time job, and a consistent blog where I need to document theses lunches and communicate with my audience. It is a big time sacrifice, but absolutely worth it.

LB: What surprised you about the blog?

Mrs Q: The fact that so many people were interested – I started with no expectations of followers and on the tenth day I found twenty comments on my most recent post! That brought me so much joy, to know that I’m not alone and other people care what kids are eating. On top of that, the emails I get from kids thanking me for my work are incredibly rewarding

LB: You seem so tuned in to the lunchroom staff, we LOVED your dedication to them on the day of your 101^st lunch. What made you so aware and sensitive to their perspective?

Mrs Q: That’s the reason I’m doing this project, for the kids and the staff. I know how hard they work and the tough conditions they endure just to get a meal on the table.

Mrs Q has remained anonymous in order to preserve her job, which she needs to support her family. She wrote a poignant poem to describe her anonymity. Here’s an excerpt to help remind us all that making a difference is not something for other people to do, it’s for us to do, now:

I have an ordinary life 
I work hard for the kids…
You are just like me….

I accepted your help 
I was in line behind you at the grocery store
I baked you a casserole 
I went to a conference where you spoke
I gave you $10 when you needed it most
I had your family over for dinner
I read that book you love 
I taught your kid something new 
I ate what your son ate at school
I took a picture of your lunch 
I could be anyone 
I am anonymous
You can see I am you

The LunchBox thanks Mrs Q and all of you who are working to feed kids better!

For more on Mrs Q, see her blog: Fed Up With Lunch: The School Lunch Project