"…two-thirds of states have no or weak nutrition standards to limit junk-food and soda sales out of vending machines, school stores, and other venues outside of school meals, according to a school foods report card from the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)."
Sometimes living in the Land of Plenty has its downsides! We have a generation of kids growing up on fast food and snacks. They're bombarded with junk food commercials on TV and schools are making sweets and junk readily available.
When I grew up (oh no, now I sound like my parents), there were still a lot of stay at home moms who cooked relatively healthy meals and made you eat your vegetables. Plus we didn’t have the opportunity to buy junk food on a daily basis.
Today, kids’ diets are full of junk food and sweets. Oftentimes, parents are just too busy to cook balanced meals and rely on fast food or convenience meals to help…which is ok in the short-term, but kids grow up without understanding how to prepare healthy foods or how to create a balanced diet. To add insult to injury, many schools continue to make sweet snacks, soda and unhealthy meal choices available. I’ve heard the arguments…‘ But the kids won’t eat the healthy foods’. That’s just a cop-out! I’ve seen school systems where healthy foods are presented in tasty ways and the kids love it! In fact, a recent study shows that it’s possible to do just that. I applaud those schools that are serving more fruits, vegetables and low-fat foods. Treating childhood obesity requires a multi-faceted approach. Exposing kids to healthy options in school will hopefully have an impact on their eating habits as they become adults.
- Renee Labels: Childhood Obesity, Health, healthy eating, Renee
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