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image courtesy of Flickr user absolutewade
Fast food, sodas and other sweets are pretty common in schools these days. If the Child Nutrition Promotion and School Lunch Protection Act of 2009 passes, drastic changes could be coming to a school cafeteria near you. With childhood obesity rates more than tripling in some age groups (see table), school foods are sharing the blame.
This Act would update and improve the nutrition standards for all foods sold in schools. The overall goal is to reduce obesity and related diseases in children.
For any parent, getting kids to eat healthy foods can be a big challenge. When fast food or sweets are an option, most kids will forgo the ‘healthy’ and opt for the treats. Even parents who are very careful at home can’t control the choices their children make in school.
Prominent health groups are showing strong support for the School Lunch Protection Act. Groups such as the American Diabetes Association and American Dietetics Association are encouraging consumers and professionals to show their support. The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), a consumer nutrition and health advocacy group has asked readers to sign petitions and join the Healthy School Food Brigade in Washington, DC on June 24. Those participating in the Brigade will attend meetings with Members of Congress. While running off to Washington isn’t a possibility for most, everyone has the option show their support by signing the petition.
Addressing the obesity epidemic in the US is going to take addressing it from all sides. How can we change this? Through public education, making better choices at home, and promoting better habits in schools, where many children eat two meals per day. Improving the quality and nutrition of all school foods means fewer empty calories; and that means healthier kids. Hopefully, this will translate into healthier adults.
It’s up to all of us to help make this change, and now is the time to act.
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Prevalence of Obesity* Among U.S. Children and Adolescents
(Aged 2–19 Years) |
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Survey Periods
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NHANES II
1976–1980 |
NHANES III
1988–1994 |
NHANES
1999–2002 |
NHANES
2003–2006 |
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|
Ages
2 through 5 |
5%
|
7.2%
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10.3%
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12.4%
|
|
Ages
6 through 11 |
6.5%
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11.3%
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15.8%
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17.0%
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Ages
12 through 19 |
5%
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10.5%
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16.1%
|
17.6%
|
Comments
I have to dispute the opening comments- many states already have LEGISLATION prohibiting sodas and "foods of minimal nutritional value" from being served! What we cannot control is what children eat before and after school. This is where we need attention. Parents don't always have an awareness of better or even necessary nutrition, or they have little time to shop or prepare what's best to eat.
Breakfast is also a big issue since teachers and custodians are reluctant to have breakfast in the classroom and have continuously blocked efforts to start those programs. Most schools serve less than half the number of breakfasts than lunches so many of our kids start their day without much or any nutrition.
School nutrition is better than ever. Efforts have been made on every level to educate and provide the best meals some children get for the whole day. Take your message to the parents or give the schools a better budget to get products that are healthy and fresh!
I think me also need to take in to consideration the number of fast-food restaurants siting their outlets within close proximity to schools. On top of improving cafeteria menus we should also consider working towards creating zoning laws, prohibiting fast-food restaurants from siting their restaurants within 0.5 miles of schools.
It is the parent who is responsible for the health of their child. While school lunches can be a contributor, parents are generally feeding or allowing children to eat nutritionally deficient foods at home. Plus they are not modeling the behaviors of eating that they would like their kids to follow.
I took a Dr. Sears L.E.A.N. Start class and learned that you can get kids to eat healthy. I highly recommend it for anyone. You can check it out at www.drsearslean.com.
California, and many other States, already have guidelines for food sold. Soda hasn't been in most schools for years. A child is at school for 180 days, and they eat one meal a day, that is only 180 meals out of a total of 1,095 for the year. Stop blaming a cultural and family problem on the schools. How about starting to hold families responible for thier children?
Instead of pointing fingers at school nutrition programs, it might be smart to get a grip on reality. Todays school meal programs are healthier than ever. Get your facts straight.
In Texas we have a very strict nutrition policy, even more than the national! Most districts have not fried anything in years and have switched to whole grain bread products. We get a lot of our fresh produce from Texas growers and serve it fresh. Regulations on sugar content, weight of baked goods and baked chips are very strict. This year there will be no access to soda for any student. One thing we cannot control is parents that bring in fast food for their student or send fatty snacks in their lunch. We must work together and educate for the obesity rate to decline, but school cafeterias are working very hard to do more than their part.
No, more government rules are not the answer. The real problem begins in the family. An ever increasing number of citizens are far over weight and it's not just the children. It is very bad for the children to begin this way, as it will be all that much harder for them as adults to adjust and control their weight. It really comes back to individuals and their own choices and the parents set the example for the children, so that is where it must begin to have a true, lasting and real effect. There is nothing wrong with sodas, they do not take the place of water though, which many do not drink enough of currently. It seems to me that the population has become more lazy every year and that alone will lead to increasing pounds, so get out and do some work or exercise and watch what you eat. Quit looking to the government to try and regulate everything or you'll have no freedom left.
Chicken nuggets, french toast strips, pizza. MMMMMMmmmmm!
Bear and bacon. MMMMMmmmmm
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