PersuasiveJunkFood 2

AP English

Junk Food in Schools
Junk food has taken over many of the schools in the United States, the fattest country in the world, with very negative effects. Willow Glen, for example, is one of the schools that have turned over to the “Junk Food Dark Side.” In the United States, the youth, in general, are all plagued with obesity and health problems. Eliminating junk foods in schools can project a positive mentality for students to excel socially, academically, and healthfully.
There I was waiting in line with 20 other students in front of the student store, decorated with walls of historical allusions of the time of Aztecs.
“Pop!” goes the potato chip bags as many receive their Hot Cheeetos, Doritos, Lays, and a dozen of others variety of chips that the school sells. I patiently wait in line. Observing the heads in front of me, I start to see mischief by other students cutting in line. The “nanny,” who makes sure no one cuts, catches them and sends them to OCS. Uncivilized acts by students are evident. Almost waiting for the whole lunch period, I finally get in front. I enter the room, racks of chips, candies, and doughnuts are all organized in sections. Sodas are stored in refrigerators that are seen at Walgreen’s, Safeway, and Albertsons. As I place my dollar on the table for a pack of gummy bears, a realization came to my head. All the things they sell here, “Are they even good for me?”
In America, children who are obese relatively start at an early age. If elementary schools, for example, keep selling junk food to children, many students will become habitually addicted and reliant on these comestibles. As obese children get older, they are at risk of many internal issues such as depression and loss of self-confidence. Knowing that media highly emphasizes on the idealism of figures for both males and females, whom who maybe not fit in these “perfect” images where one must be skinny in order to look good will become discouraged. Obesity, unhealthy foods in schools and teen suicides correlate with each other in some way. As obese children undergo harassment and gibes, they become prone to thoughts of suicide.
In elementary school, I took an image of a very chubby adolescent. I was also addicted to fast foods such as McDonald’s and Burger King and ate lots of the junk food that was provided by the school such as candies and soda. I recalled many times of harassment and gibes from students in my classroom. One time, I was in 4th grade and these kids threw erasers at me and called me “fat boy!” I cried with a loud roar and the teacher dismissed the taunting students. I came home with dissatisfaction of myself. I hated how I looked-cheeks that looked like if they were swollen, a stomach sticking out like a panda’s stomach, and a triple chin. With such conflicts between the society in the school and the image that I projected, I wanted to die. And that was it.
Due to the harsh surroundings in which big adolescents face, the loss of self-confidence can discourage many of the future generation of Americans to cooperate successfully into bringing a prosperous future in the economy of business and politics. Self-confidence corresponds with fundamentals of leadership; without leadership in a society, no one will take charge in transgressing into the future. Statistics have shown that 1/5 of 12 year olds in the United States are considered obese and 1/3 of that are overweight (Robbins, “Food Served in Schools Suck”). Food choices in schools highly contribute to this negative factor within our society. If food choices are reformed to more widely versatile healthy selections, the percentage of obese children will drop substantially; thus, making way for more future Americans to a brighter future.
The selections of food that one chooses reflect and affect their mental process and stability. Academically, comestibles such as candies, chips, and soda nullify the brain’s activity; thus, the majority of grades of students are at a mediocre level. Research show that if one eats healthfully: vegetables and fruits, the concentration level will increase (Robbins, “Food Served in Schools Suck”). In Appleton, Wisconsin, at Central Alternative High School, the school used to be out of control: many kids brought weapons to school, the disciplinary office was crowded to the maximum capacity, and teachers were having hard times teaching students (Robbins, “Food Served in Schools Suck”). Once, the school switched to a Health Lunch Program, many of those fallacies disappeared (Robbins, “Food Served in Schools Suck”). The cafeteria is now graced with fresh salad, whole grain bread, and fruits instead of burgers and fries (Robbins, “Food Served in Schools Suck”). Soda vending machines are eliminated, replaced with good drinking water (Robbins, “Food Served in Schools Suck”). Now with a fresh selection of foods in the school, “Grades are up, truancy is no longer a problem, arguments are rare, and teachers are able to spend their time teaching,” reported a newsletter called Pure Facts (Robbins, “Food Served in Schools Suck”). Teachers from that school are expressing appraisal of the new program and its positive outcomes (Robbins, “Food Served in Schools Suck”). One elated teacher expressed “I don’t have to deal with daily discipline issues…I don’t have disruptions in class or the difficulties with student behavior I experienced before we started the food program.” Students, moreover, seemed to side with the new foods as one student exclaimed, “Now that I can concentrate I think it’s easier to get along with people…! (Robbins, “Food Served in Schools Suck”)”
Lowering the fats off of school’s food also lowers the cost to maintain and distribute it. The price of handling junk food is greater than the price of healthy foods (Adams, "Healthy Foods Are Cheaper than Unhealthy Industrial Processed Foods"). If a school switches over to a health program, they will have excess money to spend on other significant priorities to improve the school. For example, more money can be spent on school supplies such as books, computers, and utensils for the science department. The sports department can gain more equipment and uniforms to enhance the students’ physical activities. School buildings can also be ameliorated, with money removing graffiti, and improvement of sanitation. All these factors of amenities can be executed if schools switch over to a cheaper, healthier food menu for students.
Many would argue that junk foods do no harm in schools if the student, choosing his or her dietary regulations, eats it “once in a while.” However, these foods contain concentrations of two organophosphate pesticides-malathion and chlorpyrifos which can harm the development of the nervous system (Cone, "Study Indicates Organic Foods Are Best for Children”). Eating these foods on a daily basis can evidently ruin one’s nervous system from the pesticides in unhealthy food. Literally, one’s stomach can disintegrate!
With junk food distributed in American schools, kids, while not getting an efficient amount of exercise as they conform to the “potato couch culture,” are prone to health risks as they are exposed to junk food at school each day. It is imperative to reform lunch menus of all schools in America so the new generation of Americans can excel in schools, and live more healthfully. With the elimination of high exploitation of unhealthful foods in schools, positive outcomes can take effect as students can easily concentrate on school work while the teacher instructs more effectively to a more attentive classroom; excess money from the switch improves crucial school priorities.
Works Cited

Adams, Mike. "Healthy Foods Are Cheaper than Unhealthy Industrial Processed Foods." Organic Consumers. 5 Aug. 2005. NewsTarget.com. 9 Feb. 2006 <http://www.organicconsumers.org/school/foodcost080505.cfm>.

Cone, Marla. "Study Indicates Organic Foods Are Best for Children." Organic Consumers. 2 Sept. 2005. Los Angeles Times Staff Writer. 9 Feb. 2006 <http://www.organicconsumers.org/school/organicstudy090405.cfm>.

Robbins, John. "Food Served in Schools Sucks." Ask John. 1997. Food Revolution. 9 Feb. 2006 <http://www.foodrevolution.org/askjohn/43.htm>.

Cited: Adams, Mike. "Healthy Foods Are Cheaper than Unhealthy Industrial Processed Foods." Organic Consumers. 5 Aug. 2005. NewsTarget.com. 9 Feb. 2006 <http://www.organicconsumers.org/school/foodcost080505.cfm>. Cone, Marla. "Study Indicates Organic Foods Are Best for Children." Organic Consumers. 2 Sept. 2005. Los Angeles Times Staff Writer. 9 Feb. 2006 <http://www.organicconsumers.org/school/organicstudy090405.cfm>. Robbins, John. "Food Served in Schools Sucks." Ask John. 1997. Food Revolution. 9 Feb. 2006 <http://www.foodrevolution.org/askjohn/43.htm>.