What's for Lunch in Your Kids' School(s)?

 

 

With over 55 million children in U.S. schools,

chances are pretty good that you have one (or more) of those kids,

and consequently have one (or more) of these .....

 

on your refrigerator right now.

 

How closely do you look at the monthly menu when it arrives for you to ceremoniously post alongside the grocery list, To Do list, and extracurricular activities schedule?  I've seen my sisters' refrigerator doors.  :-)

 

You want your kids to eat healthy food, and at home they do.

 

But what do they eat at school? What do your kids, grandkids, nieces/nephews eat Monday - Friday?

 

Does it look like this?

 

 

Or this....

 

  As a 15+ year educator, I can tell you the answer is probably "yes."

 

Okay, so the first picture is pretty obvious: devoid of any color (aka fruits/veggies), loaded with calories, refined carbohydrates, and fat.

 

But the second picture appears to be a better choice, right? 

Let's take a closer look.

The milk is a healthy choice, but lowfat would be a better option. The orange is also healthy, but oversized (1/2 would be a serving size) and loaded with natural sugar. Green beans: canned (lots of salt and preservatives).  Spaghetti with 'meat' sauce: oversized portion/refined carbohydrates. White bread: oversized portion/refined carbohydrates.

 

Why does this matter?

 

Because according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), "the prevalence of obesity in U.S. children and adolescents has more than doubled in the past 30 years, a leading contributor to diabetes, which is also on the rise among our nation's children."

 

Click here to read the report and review the statistics. Click here to read about the contributing factors.

 

According to Your Total Health, a wellness website provided by NBC and iVillage,

• Obesity, an excessive amount of body fat, boosts the risk of diabetes, heart conditions and many other diseases. Nearly one-fifth of American children are overweight or obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 
• Type 2 diabetes was once labeled adult-onset diabetes, but that term no longer applies. As the incidence of childhood obesity has risen in recent decades, so has the number of children diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The CDC now estimates that one out of three children born in 2000 will develop diabetes.
• Obesity can also cause a phenomenon called double diabetes, in which children with type 1 diabetes who gain weight develop insulin resistance. Obesity might also cause an earlier onset of type 1 diabetes.

 As an adult type 2 diabetic, who was diagnosed after 39 years of the standard U.S. American diet, I encourage you to check out the links, read more, and give thought to what kind of difference we can make for our children in U.S. schools.  If you're thinking, "That doesn't apply to me. I don't have kids," I'd ask you to stop and think:  Who are the future adults in this country?  Whose healthcare may we have to support (not talking politics here)?  How can we make a difference to ensure their health and well-being?

How healthy are your children's school lunches?

Look for next Monday's Meatless Monday focus on Baltimore Public Schools.

 Happy eating and cooking, friends...

Robin