New School Programs That Aim To Combat Childhood Obesity
It was on the first quarter of 2010 when First Lady Michelle Obama announces the ambitious national goal of resolving the epidemic of child obesity in America. The campaign is called “Let’s Move” and it aims to provide schools, families and communities simple tools to help kids be more active, eat better, and get healthy. Since then, several other healthy campaigns from various sectors followed across all states. And before the year ended, President Obama enacted into law a new nutrition bill – Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act 2010 – that would help improve the quality of foods served in schools.
Another noteworthy event that happened in line with Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign was the launching of Fresh Healthy Vending a healthy snacks vending franchise offering where most of the healthy vending machines are placed in schools and in locations where children spend time after school like YMCAs.
Childhood Obesity As A National Security Threat
When First Lady Michelle Obama launched her Let’s Move program she described childhood obesity as a national security threat. “A recent study put the health care cost of obesity-related diseases at $147 billion a year,” Mrs. Obama said. “This epidemic also impacts the nation’s security, as obesity is now one of the most common disqualifiers for military service.”
The statement happened at a ceremony at the White House during the launching of the First Lady’s “Let’s Move” campaign which was attended by many officials of the President’s cabinet. And on December 2010, a few days before ushering the New Year, a new nutrition bill was signed into law by President Barack Obama to promote better eating habits among children.
Healthy Kids Diets Makes for Better Learning in Schools
Sure it takes some good effort for parents to prepare packed meals for their children, and it even takes a lot more to ensure that kids are eating healthy in school when they miss the time to send nutritious lunches and snacks to their kids. With the frenetic and busy schedules of working families, the kids’ health is at times taking the backseat. And unfortunately, it leads to childhood obesity and poor performance in schools.
So, what options are we looking at for our kids’ healthy diet? How do we make them perform well in school and stay alert all throughout the day?
USA Must Tackle Nationwide Childhood Obesity Epidemic
Have you had the time to check what your kids are eating lately? How proactive have you been in checking with your kids’ school the kind of nutritional foods they are serving in their campus cafeterias? These are pertinent questions that shouldn’t be left unattended by parents these days considering the growing rate of childhood obesity in the US.
Statistics have already spoken the alarming concern which prompted President Obama to officially declare September as the National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, saying, “We now face a national childhood obesity crisis with nearly one in every three of America’s children being overweight or obese.”
Children Need to Get Healthier in Schools
Education is the greatest wealth parents can pass on to their kids. Hence, it doesn’t come as a surprise why parents work so much just to make sure they afford the best schools for their kids. And when we say best schools we don’t only expect an excellent standing but also a healthier environment for our children.
Exactly, how do we know our children are getting healthier in schools? Or at the very least, enrolled in a school with great facilities, outstanding people, and a fit environment that encourages them to lead a healthy lifestyle?
Healthy Vending and Lunches for Schools This Year
Schools continue to move up a gear in promoting good nutrition and take control of the foods being served to students in their cafeterias by removing junk foods in their ala carte menu. Some of the widely popular choices that were replaced with healthier versions are ice cream and chocolate chip cookie—and counting.
This move is in strict compliance to the Healthy Kids Act to be fully implemented this fall at schools throughout the state. Marshalltown High School is one to say goodbye to nachos, ice cream, and brownies and welcomed the addition of yogurt, cheese crackers, and graham crackers among the latest 100-calorie snack packs introduced in its campus cafeteria. Healthy snack ideas should be introduced through school vending programs and there are now companies with fresh vending menus for middle and high schools that are making an impact in the U.S.
Healthy Snacks and Drinks Can Also Taste Good
When we talk about healthy eating, children in particular, cringe at the thought of bland veggies and unsavory soups and dishes. But the truth is healthy snacks and drinks have hugely evolved in the way they are created nowadays. Schools know that it takes time for children to get used to healthier menus and this prompted them to introduce more great tasting food while at the same time complying with strict nutrition guidelines.
Hingham Public School is one good example of this. They take so much pride with their nutritious offerings to their middle and high school students which includes tasty lemon-garlic potato salad, apple coleslaw, chicken, broccoli, and ziti pasta, fresh tomato and basil sandwiches, and corn and black bean salad—to name a few.
School Determined to Make Lunches and Vending Machines Healthy
Pop tarts, French fries, nachos are already out of the picture in school meals. This year, another school lunch is removed. Maplewoood Richmond Heights School District is the first to remove chicken nuggets from their school lunch menus.
“We’re not serving any chicken nuggets,” said a triumphant Carol Kon, the food service director for the Maplewood-Richmond Heights School District. “We’re the first to do that.” With a total of 1,150 students, this school district has intentionally dissuaded itself from offering unhealthy foods; thereby making themselves an envy of other school districts in the region.
Jamie Oliver: A Man of “Healthy” Inspiration
Five years ago, the Naked Chef star and Great Britain’s wonder boy, Jamie Oliver, started his food revolution. But his revolution went beyond the four corners of the studio. Instead, he went out to schools and embarked on a Jamie Oliver-inspired schools revolution.
Jamie Oliver has long been campaigning for schools to “junk” junk foods in schools vending programs once and for all. By doing so, kids can eat fresh, tasty and nutritious foods. Indeed, Oliver’s campaign has proved its worthiness through greater support from various schools.
Iowa City Schools Get Healthier
From Mondays to Fridays, kids and teens go to school. Going to school is a good thing as they get to learn something new during their school days. However, school days also provide opportunities to become unhealthy.
Every time, kids and teens are in school, they go to the school cafeteria to eat their meals. Sadly, the school cafeterias and mostly serve greasy foods. In turn, they become obese, unhealthy or just not eating the right nutritious foods that they deserve.