It is no secret that America is in an obesity epidemic. The majority of public schools are only making this problem worse. The school lunches that are provided to students are unhealthy, lacking in taste and quality, and are extremely underwhelming. This isn’t only a problem with lunches, the food in the vending machines is also very unhealthy. The lunches also do not cater in the slightest to children with food allergies or restrictions such as vegetarian or vegan.
America is failing their children by placing them in an environment that is supposed to be preparing them for the future, but isn't worried about their future health. Another issue regarding school lunches is that students who run out of lunch money are forced to eat either a pre-packed …show more content…
This happened toward the end of the 19th century.
These programs were very popular with teachers and parents alike, they believed it contributed to better physical and mental health in the children. These school lunches were reaching kids to choose the foods they eat more wisely and about nutrition. Having school lunch programs in place also helped farmers and poor children during the great depression. Schools hired people which provided jobs, they also purchased the surplus of crops that were produced by farmers, and provided a meal to the impoverished children of the time. However, during World War Two, the amount of school lunches provided decreased. This led to congress passing the National
School Lunch act in 1946. This stated that programs and grants would be put in place to provide an “adequate supply of food and other facilities for the establishment, maintenance, operation, and expansion of nonprofit school lunch programs.” School milk and breakfast programs were added by Nixon and Eisenhower when they increased the budget for school lunch programs in
1966. However, when Reagan got elected, things took a turn. He slashed the budget by …show more content…
While the school lunch program is very convenient and helpful for children who need it, but it can definitely be improved.
Contemporary Situation
Today, the lunches provided at schools are mediocre and unhealthy. Ever since the
Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act was passed, schools have made efforts to make the school lunches healthier for the children. Students, however, are not responding well to these healthier lunches. This is causing schools to lose money because students are bringing their lunches from home more and more. Food is going to waste due to this and so is money. The New York Times mentioned how the meals comes off as tasteless and bland to the children and also pointed out that these regulations prevent the cafeterias from providing the children with foods that are staples of diets for children in countries with much lower rates of childhood and adult obesity than the United States (Murphy,2015). What schools should be focusing on is making the healthy food options full of flavor as well.
Studies have shown that school age children need at least five portions of different
America is failing their children by placing them in an environment that is supposed to be preparing them for the future, but isn't worried about their future health. Another issue regarding school lunches is that students who run out of lunch money are forced to eat either a pre-packed …show more content…
This happened toward the end of the 19th century.
These programs were very popular with teachers and parents alike, they believed it contributed to better physical and mental health in the children. These school lunches were reaching kids to choose the foods they eat more wisely and about nutrition. Having school lunch programs in place also helped farmers and poor children during the great depression. Schools hired people which provided jobs, they also purchased the surplus of crops that were produced by farmers, and provided a meal to the impoverished children of the time. However, during World War Two, the amount of school lunches provided decreased. This led to congress passing the National
School Lunch act in 1946. This stated that programs and grants would be put in place to provide an “adequate supply of food and other facilities for the establishment, maintenance, operation, and expansion of nonprofit school lunch programs.” School milk and breakfast programs were added by Nixon and Eisenhower when they increased the budget for school lunch programs in
1966. However, when Reagan got elected, things took a turn. He slashed the budget by …show more content…
While the school lunch program is very convenient and helpful for children who need it, but it can definitely be improved.
Contemporary Situation
Today, the lunches provided at schools are mediocre and unhealthy. Ever since the
Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act was passed, schools have made efforts to make the school lunches healthier for the children. Students, however, are not responding well to these healthier lunches. This is causing schools to lose money because students are bringing their lunches from home more and more. Food is going to waste due to this and so is money. The New York Times mentioned how the meals comes off as tasteless and bland to the children and also pointed out that these regulations prevent the cafeterias from providing the children with foods that are staples of diets for children in countries with much lower rates of childhood and adult obesity than the United States (Murphy,2015). What schools should be focusing on is making the healthy food options full of flavor as well.
Studies have shown that school age children need at least five portions of different