Poor Nutrition

In researching the responsible conditions poor nutrition underprivileged urban areas within the United States, I quickly learned how multifaceted the complications that lead to poor nutrition are. However, in understanding the complicated nature of food deserts, I have begun thinking about what the food policy in aid of impoverished areas that need better nutrition might look like. What I essentially learned from my prior research was that the major culprits of poor nutrition are high prices for health food, food deserts, and lack of education, and perhaps most sadly, little interest in eating healthy food. It would be too difficult to come up with a single food policy that can adequately address each aspect listed, but I believe that addressing …show more content…
For reasons related to low income, unavailability of healthy foods, or poor education concerning healthy eating, amongst other reasons, “more than half of American children do not get enough of vitamins D and E, while more than a quarter do not get enough calcium, magnesium or vitamin A,” according an article by The Guardian (Bush & Welsh, 2015). Potentially the most valuable lesson I received from my paper on food deserts and poor nutrition is that there is no single move that could be made to create a large difference in the nutrition of underserved children. Changes must be made in the food system, the affordability of food, the access to healthy food, and education on healthy eating. Until all the necessary changes can be made, public school systems across the country should take responsibility for the health and well-being of their students while they are in school. While the responsibility of any child should be predominantly their parents’, ignoring the potential good that could be done in schools for their students is a huge disservice for those children, the future of the American …show more content…
I believe the potential of placing more importance on healthy eating in school is great, and missing the opportunity is a gross waste. And while there are plenty of challenges, both those that I have mentioned, and I am sure plenty more than would not come to mind unless I worked within the system, I feel that any obstacle should be overcome to ensure the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of America’s children. They are and should be the first priority of our country. It is time that we stop overlooking the importance of healthy eating as a primary need for all