We need to stand up for them and get the schools to provide healthy foods. Parents need to be more of a role model to our children and teach them what is healthy and what is not. Two out of three children consume about one-third of their total calories from eating school meals. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 17% of children, ages 2-19 are obese. Ann Cooper says, “40 – 45% of people will be insulin dependent within a decade.
In order to put an end to childhood obesity, the schools needs to prepare a healthy yet balanced diet for all kids, by serving them with good food that is full of nutrition. District U-46 schools should prepare healthier/ more nutritious lunches in order to reduce childhood obesity. First, the most important reason why lunches should be more nutritious and healthier is to reduce childhood obesity in our children. In the United States, the amount of overweight children has dramatically increased in the recent years. In 2002, obesity statistics show that twenty two percent U.S. preschoolers were overweight (“Child”).
This will result in improved, healthier lunches and breakfasts around the country. Although many healthy, nutritious foods may not be the tastiest, the government should impose restrictions on what kind of foods can be served in cafeterias because they choose foods that are nutritious for children, and more than one in three of children in the United States are obese and need to be healthier. What are the most delicious foods to students? Well, the foods that students enjoy eating the most may not be allowed to be severed at their lunch. This is due to the fact some of the most delicious foods are the unhealthiest.
Another economic issue that American families face today is being underemployed. Being underemployed is when you only a have part time job(s) or you take positions that only pay minimum wage. In order to feed their families some people are turning to the use of government assistance such as food stamps (SNAP). The United States Department of Agriculture (2012), states that all people who are already receiving food assistance (food stamps) will automatically qualify for free school meals for their children. The school meals help aid the families with
(Moffitt, 1995). Being a Dietetics student, I am extremely aware of the importance of nutritious school meal programs because children spend most of their habit-forming years in school. Students need to develop positive breakfast and lunch choices in order to develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle in the future. As I briefly stated before, there have been studies done to compare the students who participate in school breakfast and lunch programs with the students who choose not to. The findings indicated that a surprising number of students do not participate in the programs altogether.
Schools have an ideal opportunity to influence children’s diets. Breakfast clubs can help ensure that children eat a nutritious and filling meal at the start of the day. School meals can be made more appealing to children by being freshly prepared on the premises and served in a more conducive environment. Schools can teach the importance of healthy eating through PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education) and stimulate children’s interest in and provide access to different foods in cooking classes. There is a suggestion that combined with a poor diet; a lack of physical activity can lead to obesity.
* By the 12-18 months, babies should be able to eat the same food as the rest of the family with no extra salt or sugared added. Children * Energy and nutrients requirements continue to increase as the children grow older. Limiting foods and drinks containing sugar to meal times and brushing regularly with fluoride toothpaste can help to keep teeth free from decay. School meals can make an important contribution to the nutrient intake of children during term time. A healthy lifestyle for the whole family is important.
First, I think providing junk foods in school gives students a variety of food choices. Secondly, junk foods are convenient and a delicious source for snacks. Lastly, if the school stops selling junk food it would lose a lot of money. My first reason of why I support keeping junk food in school is that selling junk food provides students a variety of choices for lunch and snacks. Everyone can choose what they like to eat.
It explains that we as parents not only have to fight against the media advertising the junk food commercials, but now we must fight against the public school system serving the poor choices in the school lunches. The author, Dr. Joseph Esposito is founder and developer of AlignLife Netraceauticals. The audience will most likely be parents concerned with their child’s health and well being. Overall, I like and agree with the information in the article. Galenet.galegroup.com “Health and Fitness Across the Curriculum.” Paperclip Communications (2005).
Lunch is an important meal of the day and many children eat it at school. It helps our bodies and brains grow and develop into the way that they are supposed to by boosting our metabolism and giving us energy for the rest of the day. But it's probably one of the biggest problems in schools throughout America. We are told to eat healthy and good but we cannot always do that with the choices we have at the school. Students are being fed unhealthy lunches at school cafeterias simply because it is cheaper to produce unhealthy processed foods so alternatives and healthier food go away.