Nutrition in Schools

Nutrition in Schools Nutrition in schools has become a very controversial issue in America, particularly in the last decade. Many people say that the food being given to students in elementary and secondary schools is unhealthy for them. A lot of the food served in schools contains little nutritional value. More often than not, the lunches are served from a box. They are typically shipped frozen in mass quantities to be stored in the lunchroom freezers and refrigerators. People feel that almost all the food served in cafeterias is processed and not natural. This has become a huge issue and there are parents, teachers, and even students in some cases trying to resolve and fight this national problem. School nutrition and lunch programs have received part of the blame for a lot of health problems that many students have. Some of these problems are diabetes, attention-deficit disorder, hyperactivity disorder, and especially obesity. It has been said that the problem with school-based eating, whether it be not finishing meals or having poor choice in food, could be associated with a short lunch period. Typically lunch lasts anywhere between 20-35 minutes. That may be enough time to eat, but with waiting in the lunch line and finding a seat taken into account, it could leave the student with less than 15 minutes to eat. That does not seem enough time to enjoy a good lunch. They may feel rushed and often don’t finish their meal. An idea as to why it is becoming even more of a problem in the elementary schools is that recess typically follows lunch. This could make the children rush while eating and of course throw away much of their food. They are excited and focused on going outside to play. This is not the cafeteria’s fault because no matter what they served the children would be more excited to go outside and play. But it is also another reason associated with the lack of nutrition being taken in by students in the schools. Another issue is the serving of soda, candy, chips, cookies, and desserts. Since soda is served, many students choose that rather than milk. This greatly reduces their intake of calcium, which according to the studies is one of the most missed nutrients by students. Children love candy and sweets, so there are some that say they should have to eat their lunches first before being served a dessert. Instead, more often than not they are given the dessert at the same time as their actual lunch.
Studies and tests have been done to try to figure out what the real issue is with the nutrition in elementary and secondary schools. A dietary analysis of the National Evaluation of School Nutrition Programs, or the NESNP, was created to find the caloric and nutrient intake in the breakfast and lunch programs provided at schools. This analysis showed that most children in schools in the US do not consume the recommended daily amounts (RDA’s) of certain vitamins and nutrients. Including magnesium, vitamin A, calcium, vitamin B6, and especially iron. This was determined based on the usual servings given during a particular meal. It didn’t take into account whether a student eats more or less of the food provided. If a student ate more, then he or she may have taken in more nutrients than the others. It was also found that for breakfast, vitamin C was the only nutrient that exceeded or met the RDA. The study or analysis showed that the main cause of poor nutrition was due to lack of quality in the foods and the quantity eaten by students.
With all this information taken into account, there are some possible solutions to help with this problem. Students could be given a little more time to eat during lunch break so they are able to finish their lunches. Schools could also spend a little more time and money preparing quality food. This should be a no-brainer because everyone should want the kids to be healthy. It would be well worth the time and money to prepare better meals. One of the most requested solutions is to eliminate soda entirely throughout schools. Many feel that soda is the main cause of obesity and that eliminating it would help immensely. These solutions could work if they were put into effect. Obesity in young people is becoming a huge problem, one too big to ignore. It must be taken seriously and actions must be taken to fix it. Works Cited
Burghardt, John A., Anne R. Gordon, and Thomas M. Fraker. "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition." Meals Offered in the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Nov. 2012. .
Gordon, Anne R., Barbara L. Devaney, and John A. Burghardt. "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition." Dietary Effects of the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Nov. 2012. .
Hanes, S., J. Vermeersch, and S. Gale. "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition." The National Evaluation of School Nutrition Programs: Program Impact on Dietary Intake. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Nov. 2012. .

Cited: Burghardt, John A., Anne R. Gordon, and Thomas M. Fraker. "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition." Meals Offered in the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Nov. 2012. . Gordon, Anne R., Barbara L. Devaney, and John A. Burghardt. "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition." Dietary Effects of the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Nov. 2012. . Hanes, S., J. Vermeersch, and S. Gale. "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition." The National Evaluation of School Nutrition Programs: Program Impact on Dietary Intake. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Nov. 2012. .