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 Today, the old lunch boxes have been replaced by feeding schemes or tuck shops at schools.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.
A 2003 survey conducted at more than 200 schools in and around Washington revealed shocking statistics regarding the junk food sold via most vending machines. It was also argued that these junk-popping vending machines are money-making rackets and in direct competition with the goals of national school health food schemes and meal programs that are supported by the governments of most countries.
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.
Entrepreneurs soon saw the gap and privately owned kiosks became a popular alternative to formal, regulated meal programs in more affluent countries and schools. Unfortunately, the profit to be made out of these fast food outlets played a bigger role than the quality or nutritional value of the food sold - with detrimental consequences.
Studies have shown that most of the food sold at these privately owned kiosks have very little nutritional value and consist mostly of sweetened cool drinks, chips, candy, confectioneries and pies. Fruit, healthy fruit juices and even water or milk are rarely available. In many cases, schools stopped providing the latter due to a lack of interest. What kid would buy and apple if he/she can buy candy or chips?
Another age old adage is that knowledge/education begins at home. Children will follow whatever example is set. Adults (parents, teachers and government officials) will have to lead by example if they want to save the world's youth from the deadly side-effects of modern day's luxuries.
The only solution seems to be to instill a solid knowledge and love of healthy food in kids from a young age. That way they can make a calculated choice and demand healthy food at schools themselves.
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.
A 2003 survey conducted at more than 200 schools in and around Washington revealed shocking statistics regarding the junk food sold via most vending machines. It was also argued that these junk-popping vending machines are money-making rackets and in direct competition with the goals of national school health food schemes and meal programs that are supported by the governments of most countries.
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.
Entrepreneurs soon saw the gap and privately owned kiosks became a popular alternative to formal, regulated meal programs in more affluent countries and schools. Unfortunately, the profit to be made out of these fast food outlets played a bigger role than the quality or nutritional value of the food sold - with detrimental consequences.
Studies have shown that most of the food sold at these privately owned kiosks have very little nutritional value and consist mostly of sweetened cool drinks, chips, candy, confectioneries and pies. Fruit, healthy fruit juices and even water or milk are rarely available. In many cases, schools stopped providing the latter due to a lack of interest. What kid would buy and apple if he/she can buy candy or chips?
Another age old adage is that knowledge/education begins at home. Children will follow whatever example is set. Adults (parents, teachers and government officials) will have to lead by example if they want to save the world's youth from the deadly side-effects of modern day's luxuries.
The only solution seems to be to instill a solid knowledge and love of healthy food in kids from a young age. That way they can make a calculated choice and demand healthy food at schools themselves.
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