School lunches, a hot topic that’s been out for a while among healthcare providers, and even the President’s wife. As we all know kids these days are not eating healthy food, whether outside or inside the home and schools are not doing much to resolve the problem. All throughout the U.S. kids in schools are being served food that looks appetizing to the eye, but not so scrumptious to their bodies. Therefore, many parents and students do not know what exactly is in the food unless they were to research on the topic. The food items these schools serve to students is taking a toile on their health and putting them at great risk. It’s time to change that, and really look in depth into what goes into these foods and the outcomes it could lead to by consuming school lunches, unless we change the school lunch system once and for all to make sure kids get the proper healthy and nutritious diet.
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Also, the fact that obesity rates are tripled among the high school age groups explains clearly that the food intake of what’s being served in high schools now a days is very unhealthy. Foods high in fat, sodium, and sugar store in our bodies and unless we exercise properly or change the school lunch system our bodies will slowly deteriorate over time. One of the main causes that eating school lunches lead to is the child becoming obese and exceeding their weight limits drastically. Foods high in fat, sodium, and sugar store in our bodies and unless we exercise properly or change the school lunch system our bodies will slowly deteriorate over time. Obesity rates have more than doubled among infants and toddlers aged 2 to 5, quadrupled in children aged 6 to 11 and more than tripled among adolescents aged 12 to 19 (Gardner). About a third of kids and adolescents in the United States are overweight or obese. Even if the government regulates the number of calories a child’s school lunch has, as it does with the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), many schools allow children to purchase a la carte foods on top of the lunch that are calorie-rich and high in fat, sodium, sugar or all three (Gardner). As shown from these facts even during young age’s kids are obese such as 2 or 3 year olds, even before they enter school. A study was done using 1,000 sixth grade students from Southeastern Michigan which found that students who brought lunches from home versus eating from school were 29 percent less likely to be obese. Meaning since these school lunches are so packed with fats and other substances kids’ intake it without knowing what’s in it, whereas home packed meals they would know all of the stuff used to prepare the food. Although, obesity is an issue there’s more than one side to the story. Not only does obesity play a role in kids’ lunches, but a student’s acceleration in academic performance is based on a balanced meal as well and eating outside meals does not help this situation either. When I was a senior in high school we were allowed to go outside and eat lunches at places like Subway. Just like me students when having the privilege go outside and eat instead of school foods not realizing this could also take a hit in one’s health. Researchers analyzed data on 11,470 kids who completed a questionnaire on their food habits, and they found that kids who consumed fast food four to six times per week scored 20 percent lower on tests than kids who didn’t eat any fast food (Khan). A number of previous studies link poor nutrition to poor cognitive development (Khan). Basically, the students are not getting proper nutrients for their brains to be active and mentally prepared to learn or take a test, because unhealthy additives go into the food they eat instead of making them engaged they become disengaged and not ready to learn, instead sleep in class. One research stated by food says: “A 2005 study on eating habits and academic performance reported in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association affirmed these findings, indicating that breakfast prepares students to work
Also, the fact that obesity rates are tripled among the high school age groups explains clearly that the food intake of what’s being served in high schools now a days is very unhealthy. Foods high in fat, sodium, and sugar store in our bodies and unless we exercise properly or change the school lunch system our bodies will slowly deteriorate over time. One of the main causes that eating school lunches lead to is the child becoming obese and exceeding their weight limits drastically. Foods high in fat, sodium, and sugar store in our bodies and unless we exercise properly or change the school lunch system our bodies will slowly deteriorate over time. Obesity rates have more than doubled among infants and toddlers aged 2 to 5, quadrupled in children aged 6 to 11 and more than tripled among adolescents aged 12 to 19 (Gardner). About a third of kids and adolescents in the United States are overweight or obese. Even if the government regulates the number of calories a child’s school lunch has, as it does with the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), many schools allow children to purchase a la carte foods on top of the lunch that are calorie-rich and high in fat, sodium, sugar or all three (Gardner). As shown from these facts even during young age’s kids are obese such as 2 or 3 year olds, even before they enter school. A study was done using 1,000 sixth grade students from Southeastern Michigan which found that students who brought lunches from home versus eating from school were 29 percent less likely to be obese. Meaning since these school lunches are so packed with fats and other substances kids’ intake it without knowing what’s in it, whereas home packed meals they would know all of the stuff used to prepare the food. Although, obesity is an issue there’s more than one side to the story. Not only does obesity play a role in kids’ lunches, but a student’s acceleration in academic performance is based on a balanced meal as well and eating outside meals does not help this situation either. When I was a senior in high school we were allowed to go outside and eat lunches at places like Subway. Just like me students when having the privilege go outside and eat instead of school foods not realizing this could also take a hit in one’s health. Researchers analyzed data on 11,470 kids who completed a questionnaire on their food habits, and they found that kids who consumed fast food four to six times per week scored 20 percent lower on tests than kids who didn’t eat any fast food (Khan). A number of previous studies link poor nutrition to poor cognitive development (Khan). Basically, the students are not getting proper nutrients for their brains to be active and mentally prepared to learn or take a test, because unhealthy additives go into the food they eat instead of making them engaged they become disengaged and not ready to learn, instead sleep in class. One research stated by food says: “A 2005 study on eating habits and academic performance reported in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association affirmed these findings, indicating that breakfast prepares students to work