Should Schools Teach Children About Nutrition?

Carolyn Phenicie, Contributing Writer, Food Culture

If the Obama administration has its way, the food culture of America's cafeterias may be changing. Though schools have been banned from selling junk food as part of federal breakfast and lunch programs, the new legislation would also bar less-than-healthy fare from vending machines and a la carte options. The regulations are attached to legislation funding the programs and giving a boost for schools to purchase healthier options to replace the junk food. 

On Monday, March 1, 2010, the First Lady spoke to the School Nutrition Conference Association. Kids are tempted by dozens of options for meals and a la carte items, on top of junk-food-laden vending machines, she said. "But we have to be honest: Our kids didn't do this to themselves," she said. "You see, our kids don't decide what to serve -- or what is sold at lunch... We set those priorities. We make those decisions. And even if it doesn't always feel like it, we are the ones in charge. But that's the good news -- because if we make the decisions, then we can decide to solve this problem."

The proposal is part of a broader set of regulations by the First Lady to combat childhood obesity. About one-third of the nation's children are now overweight or obese, and the number is higher among minority children. Other aspects of her proposal include encouraging activity and ending "food deserts" (areas of the country without access to a grocery store) within seven years. 

Also while speaking to the school nutritionists, Mrs. Obama advocated small changes, like using skim and 1 percent milk rather than whole, and swapping non- and low-fat salad dressings for full-fat ones. "It's often the small things that make a difference here," she said. Though that opinion was disputed in a recent New York Times article, it's likely the move to ban junk that will elicit the most controversy.

Current estimates indicate that children get half of their daily calories at school, so whose responsibility is it to ensure that they eat healthy? Should schools, tasked with teaching children about other subjects, also teach them about sound nutrition? Or are parents responsible for teaching their children how to make the right choices? Whatever the opinion, it seems like my favorite childhood lunchtime delicacy of an oatmeal cream pie sandwiched between Pringles chips is destined to become a thing of the past.

Comments

[Kids Breakfast]

Good initiative.. Kids need healthy food to keep them going in the long run..
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