More and more kids today are eating diets high in fat, calories and sugar and low in nutritious, low calorie fruits and vegetables. One to two meals are eaten at school plus a snack and it is becoming increasingly difficult for students to make healthy food choices. With schools providing many foods that are processed and the marketing materials that bombard kids, it is much easier to choose a high calorie, high fat option than something that is full of nutrition and low in calories.
In the last thirty years, childhood obesity has tripled. Twenty percent of children between ages six and eleven are obese. These kids are not just a few pounds overweight but are OBESE. This means that their weight is more likely to cause lifestyle diseases such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol at very young ages.
In addition, schools are facing continuous cuts in their budgets and many have looked at outside marketing as sources of revenue for programs that they would otherwise have to cut. Many of these schools do not have restrictions on the type of marketing that can take place. According to ‘Reading, Writing and Raisinets: Are School Finances Contributing to Children’s Obesity’, financially strapped schools are allowing food and beverage advertising to students and are allowing “pouring” rights contracts with beverage vendors. This allows a vendor to have exclusivity for distribution and advertising rights on campus and at sporting events.
It is not difficult to understand why our children are gaining weight when you look at the food options available to them. Schools are adding more processed foods to their menus while eliminating fresh foods. Processed foods are less expensive and have a longer shelf life. A typical breakfast at a high school in the United States is a sausage link with blueberry pancakes, sausage egg and cheese biscuits, cereal, yogurt, packaged donuts or packaged muffins. A typical lunch is pizza, chicken nuggets, chips, hamburgers, hot dogs and French fries, which are served daily. Vegetables that alternate depending on availability are mashed potatoes, corn, broccoli, salad, carrots and green beans. Fruit servings are minimal and consist of pears or peaches with whip cream on them. Ice cream, pop-sickles or rice crispy treats are served for desert. Many of these foods are high in calories, fats and sugar while containing little nutritious value.
To assist a student’s learning process, the foods eaten should fuel the body, not cause it to be sluggish or foggy minded. These foods affect the student’s cognitive, attention and memory skills. It is important that the foods they eat help them learn and not deter from it. Serving fresh food is more expensive and does take more time to prepare. However, if schools do not change what they are doing, it is going to cost society much more in medical costs to treat the diseases that are occurring because of obesity.
Sources:
Molnar A, Garcia DR, Boninger F, Merrill B. A National Survey of the Types and Extent of the Marketing of Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value in Schools. Tempe, AZ: Commercialism in Research Unit, 2006.
Tagami, Ty. Cobb high schools sell marquee space. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Cobb County News. Web. September 9, 2011. http://www.ajc.com/news/cobb/cobb-high-schools-sell-1152271.html
Study Shows Food Companies Target Captive School Audience. The Center for Science and Public Interest. Web. January 31, 2008 http://www.cspinet.org/new/200801311.html
Traci Brosman has studied the mind and the role it plays in success, happiness and health for over twenty years. As co-founder of World Wellness Education she educates and inspires people to live healthier lives via her speaking appearances, TV shows, wellness tip videos, articles and conference calls.
Traci believes integrative medicine will become the medicine of first choice and not the medicine of last resort. This has led her to start Holistic Marketing Mentors and help wellness professionals create ease and flow in their business while increasing profits. Her clients learn to leverage their businesses so that they can help more people and not work twelve and fifteen hour days. Her powerful mastermind sessions are known to help participants break past barriers and stop the cycle of self-sabotage.
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This information is not meant to be medical advice. No action or inaction should be taken solely on the contents of this information. Instead, you should consult appropriate health professionals on any matter relating to your health and well-being.
Obesity in children is a growing problem. I have mixed feelings because I don’t believe it’s the government’s job to determine what we eat. It is the parents’ job. If they take responsibility, then the children will learn what’s healthy and what’s not.