School Lunches In Schools

Words: 2221
Pages: 9
Open Document
History of the Problem
Across the United States the issues surrounding school lunches have been talked about for years, yet there is still so much that still needs to be done. Children’s diets are not up to par with nutritional standards and school is a main source of food for students. Kids eat at school 180 days of the year. This affects their eating habits significantly whether they purchase the school lunches or not. Studies have shown, “The top four sources of calories in the average American child's diet are grain-based desserts, pizza, soda and sports drinks, and bread. One-third eat fast food every single day. More than 90 percent don't eat enough vegetables” (Siegel). This affects students in various ways through their academic …show more content…
Because of this, correcting the problem doesn’t necessarily have to come from within the lunch system and the food that is served. According to the article, “The Real Problem with Lunch”, “each year, our children are bombarded by around $2 billion in child-directed food and beverage advertising, much of which promotes the least healthy products” (Siegel). Advertisements like this cause children to want junk food even more than they already do. Often at a younger age, kids and teens don’t realize what they are putting into their body unless they see a result or weight gain or another health problem that could be directly related. This causes them to binge on junk food, which is an extremely unhealthy habit. If students see these ads at home or at various events and get into a routine of eating this way, they will bring these habits with them into the cafeteria. By limiting the emphasis on unhealthy food ads, students may be more open to different foods. To aid this process, students could also have a required nutrition class to take. It is shown that a significant struggle in improving school lunch programs is student resistance, so by opening students up to different foods, they will become more familiar with what is served in the cafeteria (Bruske). This nutrition class could focus more on trying different healthier substitutes for …show more content…
As students learn about new styles of eating and adopt unfamiliar eating habits, they will improve their lifestyle all around. Studies show that 15% of children and teens are overweight and the number is increasing by the year (Harkin). If students maintain these new eating habits, they will take them with them through their lives, improving their healthy and overall well being. As of 2016, “The top four sources of calories in the average American child’s diet are grain-based desserts, pizza, soda and sports drinks, and bread...More than 90 percent don’t eat enough vegetables” (Siegel). By familiarizing students with new foods that still taste good and different ways they can incorporate vegetables in their diet, this could change significantly. These adjustments in eating could be incorporporated into the families of students. As students learn to enjoy these diverse foods, they will eat them at home as well, teaching this lifestyle to their siblings and parents as well. As students are brought up with healthier eating habits their behavior and academic performance will be boosted (Greene). Seeing results like this in their mood and school work will encourage them to keep up with their habits as well. These eating habits will influence students’ families along with rest of the school district, creating a healthier
Show More

Related Documents: School Lunches In Schools

School Lunches

How does a school offering cheap meals impact the students? Every school in America wants to figure out a way to positively affect kids throughout the school day, but schools can do this just by handing out free lunches. When schools provide free lunches, students don't have to bring lunch from home, students who cannot bring their own lunch due to financial difficulties will have their lunches provided to them, and free lunches can help improve test scores. Schools should offer free or cheaper meals…

Words 1247 - Pages 5

Regulate School Lunches In Schools

Most kids of today would tell you that school lunches aren't as good as they used to be, but they're missing the importance of what's really in their food. Children, today would love some Mcdonalds or a big bowl of ice cream, but as much as it tastes good and fills them up, they're missing proteins that they may later regret in life. "More than ⅓ of U.S. adults are obese" (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). It's important that we take action for our children's health and future. The federal…

Words 728 - Pages 3

School Lunches

Should we have more time for school lunch?. Having more time for school lunch would be good because students would enjoy more the food, and to eat slow would help their health. First of all, let us consider the phrase “We are what we eat”. What children eat influences their growth and development, affects their health, both in childhood and adolescence, and can contribute to disease prevention. That is why to eat at school is very important, and more importantly, to eat slowly. Since to eat…

Words 205 - Pages 1

Essay On School Lunches

nutrients from meals as a child could be a source to the problem of chronic illnesses as an adult. At school lunches around the country, food options with certain nutrition limits are required to be sold. Most of the traditional and known snacks are now off the shelves. Although it might be hard to afford, schools should keep selling healthier food because it can help physical health, learning in school, and creating healthy food habits. Physical health can benefit from healthier food options. According…

Words 472 - Pages 2

The Importance Of School Lunches In Public Schools

achieving success. School lunch for all public school students in the United States should be free regardless of where the students school is located and the socioeconomic status of the students parents.Accordingly school lunch should be free for all students because all students deserve to receive just nutrition , school lunches aid in student performance which lead to student success and no student deserves to go hungry simply because they do not have the funds for a school lunch. Studies…

Words 533 - Pages 3

Healthier School Lunches

A school cafeteria plans to change to a new, healthier school lunch menu, which would eliminate some of the students' favorite cafeteria foods. Some people agree with the changes; Meanwhile, others do not. I believe changing to a healthier school lunch menu is a good idea because some students do not have healthy food provided to them at home and if students are eating healthy food at school it could potentially cut down obesity in the long run. Busy families are more than likely familiar…

Words 316 - Pages 2

Limiting School Lunches

because of school lunches? I get school lunch every day at school and it is not filling at all. They give you one main food option and then 1 side. They have no maximum limit on sodium or sugar. And are very unhealthy, too. Sometimes the food is cold and looks bad. A lot of kids have to get seconds or even thirds because the school lunches are not filling them up. School lunches should be healthier to help combat obesity and supply filling, nutritious food to all students. School lunches are unhealthy…

Words 442 - Pages 2

Healthy School Lunches

People feel the healthy school lunch program is beneficial to all students. Many people believe the Institute of Medicine has pushed for healthier school meals . It recommends meal containing fewer calories less fat and salt and more fruit vegetables and whole grains. The first lady wants to improve childhood health through better eating. She is trying to make school lunches healthier and better for schools. It's better for schools to eat healthier. As a new school year begins American parents should…

Words 472 - Pages 2

School Lunches In America

America, school lunches have more of a negative impact than most think. If schools adopt more healthy and environmentally friendly lunches, there will be a more positive impact on children's lives and the environment. For one, schools need to offer more healthy food options to students. Also, the current lunches schools offer are detrimental towards the environment and a change is needed. Lastly, low income families' health and lives are heavily affected by the ignorance of schools. Schools in America…

Words 989 - Pages 4

Should School Lunches Be Allowed In Schools

Lunchroom In many schools throughout the United States lunchroom food has become a problem, with health, budget, government improvement and more. Most schools are undergoing budget cuts and change. This causes schools to receive less money from the government to provide lunches. The federal money from the government only pays for the schools to the receive certain lunches that’s provided for them. These lunches have been made healthier since First Lady, Michelle Obama signed the Healthy, Hunger-Free…

Words 1171 - Pages 5