Most people know the adage: You are what you eat. Thanks to modern technology and science, most people also know that a healthy, balanced diet and lifestyle are the key factors to ensure a healthy, balanced person. This adage is especially applicable to growing kids in their forming years. Then WHY do almost 30 percent of school children suffer from obesity and other forms of chronic illnesses such as allergies, diabetes, acne and overall poor health?
In earlier years, parents were totally in control of their children's meals and eating habits. Lunch boxes contained mostly sandwiches, fruit and healthy snacks to provide kids with the needed energy and nutrients for a long school day and there were few temptations other than swapping sandwiches or fruit with a classmate. Today, the old lunch boxes have been replaced by feeding schemes or tuck shops at schools. The more affluent kids buy whatever they fancy at the tuck shop, while kids from poor families often have nothing to eat or can only afford the cheapest sweets or gum available. The sad part is that school meal vending machines mostly stock unhealthy junk food with little or no nutritional value.
Much has been said and written during the past decade about the alarming increase in obesity and other diet-related conditions among young children. There are many contributing factors, such as the electronic era of TV and TV-games and crime that keep kids indoors, but over-eating and indulging in junk food remain the biggest culprit.
During the past decades, these school feeding programs changed according to the latest trends, nutritional values and economics. Many countries could not afford to maintain these programs and/or the quality of the meals decreased to make it more affordable. Today, only a few countries still provide free school meals to all pupils regardless of their financial ability to pay.
Up to 80 percent of snacks consisted of candy, chips or sugar-laden confectioneries. Of the 9,723 total snack slots in vending machines that were surveyed, only 26 slots offered a fruit or vegetable. It was argued that vending machine trends do not only promote unhealthy eating habits, but also undermine all nutrition education that children receive in school or at home.
Studies have shown that most school vending machines stock mostly junk food and sugary beverages that have very little or none nutritional value. For some kids, this junk food is the only meals they have for breakfast and lunch - the two most important meals for growing kids. Since owners of these vending machines do not have to comply with dietary regulations, they can pretty much sell whatever food they want.
The alarming increase in obesity and other diet-related health problems among young children caused an international outcry for healthier school meal programs during the last decade. It is, however, impossible to enforce and regulate such programs on a national or international scale. In poor countries, many feeding schemes fail due to corruption, mismanagement, or lack of funding.
All educational institutions have a responsibility to educate and protect pupils and to lead by example. That education includes the importance of a healthy diet and lifestyle. Therefore all schools have a responsibility and moral obligation to ensure that only healthy, nutritional food are sold on their premises.
In earlier years, parents were totally in control of their children's meals and eating habits. Lunch boxes contained mostly sandwiches, fruit and healthy snacks to provide kids with the needed energy and nutrients for a long school day and there were few temptations other than swapping sandwiches or fruit with a classmate. Today, the old lunch boxes have been replaced by feeding schemes or tuck shops at schools. The more affluent kids buy whatever they fancy at the tuck shop, while kids from poor families often have nothing to eat or can only afford the cheapest sweets or gum available. The sad part is that school meal vending machines mostly stock unhealthy junk food with little or no nutritional value.
Much has been said and written during the past decade about the alarming increase in obesity and other diet-related conditions among young children. There are many contributing factors, such as the electronic era of TV and TV-games and crime that keep kids indoors, but over-eating and indulging in junk food remain the biggest culprit.
During the past decades, these school feeding programs changed according to the latest trends, nutritional values and economics. Many countries could not afford to maintain these programs and/or the quality of the meals decreased to make it more affordable. Today, only a few countries still provide free school meals to all pupils regardless of their financial ability to pay.
Up to 80 percent of snacks consisted of candy, chips or sugar-laden confectioneries. Of the 9,723 total snack slots in vending machines that were surveyed, only 26 slots offered a fruit or vegetable. It was argued that vending machine trends do not only promote unhealthy eating habits, but also undermine all nutrition education that children receive in school or at home.
Studies have shown that most school vending machines stock mostly junk food and sugary beverages that have very little or none nutritional value. For some kids, this junk food is the only meals they have for breakfast and lunch - the two most important meals for growing kids. Since owners of these vending machines do not have to comply with dietary regulations, they can pretty much sell whatever food they want.
The alarming increase in obesity and other diet-related health problems among young children caused an international outcry for healthier school meal programs during the last decade. It is, however, impossible to enforce and regulate such programs on a national or international scale. In poor countries, many feeding schemes fail due to corruption, mismanagement, or lack of funding.
All educational institutions have a responsibility to educate and protect pupils and to lead by example. That education includes the importance of a healthy diet and lifestyle. Therefore all schools have a responsibility and moral obligation to ensure that only healthy, nutritional food are sold on their premises.
About the Author:
You can visit www.vendingmachinesschools.com for more helpful information about School Meal Vending Machines Encourage Unhealthy Eating Habits.
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire