What's the Issue With School Food?
Columnist - Kristine ValenzuelaI’m going to venture away from the topic of organic food for just one entry to talk about something that should be of interest to most parents: school lunches. There has been a lot of press lately about what’s going on with the National School Lunch Program, but I worry that not enough parents have looked into the issue to see how it may affect their kids. We have 100% control over what our kids eat when they’re in front of us but once they head to school, that control is gone - and we should be worried. Many assume schools serve nutritionally sound food because of ‘programs’ that govern the cafeterias but that’s not the case. Here’s the core of the problem: kids are getting too much of the wrong things and the poor quality of food has become a huge contributor to many of the recent health epidemics in kids (obesity, childhood diabetes, immune system deficiencies, etc.). Some specifics: Fat reigns supreme: the protein and dairy products provided to schools via government subsidies are heavily laden with saturated fats and other harmful ingredients. Calorie overload: current nutritional guidelines for school programs only indicate a minimum number of calories that need to be consumed, but make no mention of what is too much. The sky’s the limit: There are no maximum levels of sugar, sodium or saturated fat intake currently established; conversely, there is no requirement set that makes sure kids get any fruits and/or vegetables with their meals. Here’s the frightening truth: Your kids are probably eating much worse at school than you would ever dream of letting them eat at home. There are loads of controversial facets to the school lunch program so if you’re interested in learning more about it, do some homework. There are tons of articles, blogs, podcasts, and books on this subject. My hope is that you share some of these basics with any parents you know in order to create better awareness about what’s really going on in your school. There are a few pioneers who are making great strides in changing all that is wrong with school lunches but, in the meantime, change can start at home. If you want to make a real impact on what your kids are eating, make their lunch for them every day. Make a nutritionally sound sandwich on whole grain bread. Skip the candy and chips. Give them a piece of fruit or raw veggies and dip. Pack a juice box with 100% fruit juice or better yet, give them a bottle of water. As Nike says, ‘just do it’. Your kids healthy depends on it. Until next time... Email: thegreenkernel@gmail.com |
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