Home > Table Talk > Archives > 2007 > October > 19 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USDo schools offer a healthy environment for kids?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
When I join my second-graders for lunch, I walk through a cafeteria line where Honey Buns, chips, ice cream and cookies can be bought with funds that parents put into a lunch account.
Despite a school wellness policy that encourages healthy treats for classroom celebrations, teachers tell parents to bring cupcakes and pre-sliced chocolate chip cookie cakes to make it easier to distribute servings.
So when I report on a study that says more than half of Georgia’s fifth- and seventh-graders failed simple fitness tests, I’m not too surprised. Still, change is happening. The after-school program sent a representative to a county program this summer to promote better nutrition and fitness for children. Maybe next year they’ll serve fruit instead of Fritos or graham crackers as a snack.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports today that schools across the country have moved toward a somewhat healthier environment for children, with more banning junk food from vending machines, serving baked French fries instead of deep-fried ones and offering other, more nutritious foods and beverages. But the report also shows little change in the amount of physical education offered to students, and its authors say there is still much work to be done.
If you have a child in school, what’s the situation like there? If you’re involved with schools in other ways, tell us your thoughts on this issue.
Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment | Categories: Food
Comments
By V for Vendetta
October 19, 2007 12:01 PM | Link to this
The failing of fitness tests has nothing to do with the food served in schools, it is because of the complete lack of stimulating physical education they receive. Many elem. schools do not allow phys. ed. teachers to play sports that require scoring or picked teams — some kids’ feelings might be hurt. Please.
This is happening in some of metro Atlanta’s biggest counties. Which impacts a child’s future fitness level more: teaching him about healthy food or teaching him about sports and EXERCISE?
We’ve been breeding a generation of fat, lazy slobs for a while now. It’s about time someone put a stop to it. The Greeks and Romans valued athletics and competition very highly, what happened to all of that? When did the TV or the computer become an acceptable “hobby?” When did parents stop letting their kids go outside? When did kids lose the right to play team sports at recess?
Maybe if the fat kid got picked last a few more times, he would reconsider his diet and exercise habits (and get off the dang computer).
By Rodney
October 19, 2007 2:33 PM | Link to this
Well, I’m not sure I can ring in with the acidity of V’s post above - but I do agree that the problem is really the result of a couple of things … a lack of exeercise and a lack of healthy food, to name two.
As I read in the NYTimes recently, the mainstay go-to food for children is chicken nuggets. People act like that’s the end-all-be-all of feeding your children. But I don’t remember having chicken nuggets growing up. I do remember my Mother telling me to eat what she cooked (which was typically a meat and three) or don’t eat at all. So the nutrition was there, if forcibly. I’m not so sure it is nowadays.
Competitiveness is needed, I think, during childhood - if only because you’re going to run into it when you become an adult. Plus, as V stated, maybe not being picked first for today’s dodgeball game will prompt lil Johnny to wonder why. Or at least, ask his parents why. And they may realize he has an issue with weight.
On topic, do schools offer healthy lunches? Well that depends on your definition of healthy. My school day lunches didn’t include vending machines or really many options - you ate what they had in one of the three choices or, you didn’t eat school lunch. Choice, maybe, is the detriment - not so much a lack of healthy options. For what kid is going to choose a healthy food over a snack food? Not many, I’d bet.
By FCM
October 19, 2007 3:11 PM | Link to this
Well I am not going to say that fitness/exercise are a part of a healthy life style. They are. 15 minutes to play at recess is not adequate either. We had at least 2 play periods outside when I was kid plus PE. I am not for picking teams…I am for organized sports. Do a count off and then play kick ball or whatever.
However, I have never understood how schools tell me as a parent to send in only HEALTHY snacks and then sell all those things listed above. ASSININE
Also get rid of the flavored milk. It contains High Fructose Corn Syrup. If you have to sugar the milk to get the kid to drink it you are begging for issues.
By DG
October 19, 2007 3:17 PM | Link to this
The failing of fitness tests is a result of BOTH food and lack of exercise.
You can exercise the kids for several hours a day and if you feed them nothing but candy, cupcakes, and french fries, they will carry extra weight.
I find the lack of physical activity in our current society/school system revolting. I find the quantity of candy being passed out by teachers disgraceful. I’m saddened every time I walk into school and see all of the overweight children. They are quickly becoming the majority. First grade girls should NOT look like they need to wear a bra.
My son’s 3rd class hasn’t been allowed outdoor recess several times the last few weeks because “it’s wet outside!”
WHAT!!! Apparently the only place in the entire state that had a working rain cloud was directly above his school. NOT!
By V for Vendetta
October 19, 2007 4:25 PM | Link to this
FCM - You’re not for picking teams? It’s how companies hire their employees in case you didn’t notice. Might as well instill that competitive spirit in kids while they’re young, right?
By MamaS
October 19, 2007 5:25 PM | Link to this
Two years ago the principal at my child’s elementary school banned chocolate milk — kids were pouring chocolate milk on sweetened cereal for breakfast, then drinking chocolate milk at lunch (sometimes two) and buying an ice cream (sold by the PTA for extra money). The COUNTY OFFICE NUTRITIONIST reversed the ban — the county has a contract with the milk company to sell all products. Even though several studies have shown that simply removing sugared drinks from the school menu will decrease the number of discipline problems, the CO would not even let it be a pilot project! Money is more important than the children’s physical and mental health.