@BlueViolet I like you and don’t want to come across as argumentative, but if you will, I’d like to give you a little perspective on what it’s like to be a low income parent.
First, priority one is to keep a roof over your kids’ heads. This often means working multiple jobs. My son is grown now, but when he was growing up I never worked less than 2 jobs, sometimes 3, at the same time. When your kid qualifies for free breakfast AND lunch (saving you both time and money), who’s gonna turn that down?
Second, I would bet a lot of low-income parents probably believe a school meal is better than what they could provide, seeing as how school meals are based on the “healthy” food pyramid.
Low income parents love their kids just as much as their better-paid counterparts, and they are doing the best they know how. The tragedy is that they’ve been indoctrinated - like most people here were before they saw the light - and truly don’t know any better.
A couple other thoughts… first, I’ve never seen a food bank giving out ribeyes and salmon. I’m on disability now so I qualify for a monthly box. It’s 90% carbs. Bread, rice, beans, pasta, canned corn, canned potatoes, cereal, etc. Same for a local church that gives out free food. Carbs, everywhere you look. I accept it and stash it because I’m a little bit of a prepper, and bad food is better than no food. But if I relied on that box I could never be keto.
Also, many low income families live in motels (or their cars!) with no cooking facilities. Granted, you can do keto without cooking but I don’t see how it can be nutritious over the long haul.
Just my two cents. Take it with a grain of salt, just don’t forget the magnesium and potassium! 