Make the Change
Make the Change
Andrea Nolt
Strayer University
Research and Writing
ENG215
Jerred Metz, Ph.D.
December 09, 2012
Make the Change
Although there are newly imposed regulations of the school food programs, the benefits are outweighed by drawbacks. Childhood obesity is at an all time high. Children spend at least eight hours a day in schools and many eat two of their three meals there as well. For the success of the newly imposed regulations, there needs to be many changes. Without these changes, this program will fail.
The federal government has actively promoted child nutrition in American schools — starting in 1946 and then continually reauthorizing and expanding child nutrition programs to include the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), the School Breakfast Program (SBP), and the After-School Snack Program. (Fleischhacker, 2007) School districts and independent schools that choose to take part in the lunch program get cash subsidies and donated commodities from USDA for each meal they serve. In return, they must serve lunches that meet Federal requirements. (United States Department of Agriculture Food and Consumer Services, 2012) New changes in regulation of school food began in 2012 as required by Congress in the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. (The Food Revolution Team, 2012) Schools are now offering more wholesome and healthy lunches. Caloric intake was lowered and the healthy content of food increased.
The school lunch program is a national program but it is questionable whether the program is truly successful. The First Lady announced on February 10, 2012 that 2,862 schools have now met the Healthier US School Challenge, surpassing the goals of this key component of her Let 's Move! Initiative. (Let’s Move!: Two Years of Healthy Changes For Our Nation’s Kids, 2012) This number seems to be only the tip of the iceberg considering there are forty-two schools in our district alone. It seems that with the small number of schools meeting these
Andrea Nolt
Strayer University
Research and Writing
ENG215
Jerred Metz, Ph.D.
December 09, 2012
Make the Change
Although there are newly imposed regulations of the school food programs, the benefits are outweighed by drawbacks. Childhood obesity is at an all time high. Children spend at least eight hours a day in schools and many eat two of their three meals there as well. For the success of the newly imposed regulations, there needs to be many changes. Without these changes, this program will fail.
The federal government has actively promoted child nutrition in American schools — starting in 1946 and then continually reauthorizing and expanding child nutrition programs to include the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), the School Breakfast Program (SBP), and the After-School Snack Program. (Fleischhacker, 2007) School districts and independent schools that choose to take part in the lunch program get cash subsidies and donated commodities from USDA for each meal they serve. In return, they must serve lunches that meet Federal requirements. (United States Department of Agriculture Food and Consumer Services, 2012) New changes in regulation of school food began in 2012 as required by Congress in the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. (The Food Revolution Team, 2012) Schools are now offering more wholesome and healthy lunches. Caloric intake was lowered and the healthy content of food increased.
The school lunch program is a national program but it is questionable whether the program is truly successful. The First Lady announced on February 10, 2012 that 2,862 schools have now met the Healthier US School Challenge, surpassing the goals of this key component of her Let 's Move! Initiative. (Let’s Move!: Two Years of Healthy Changes For Our Nation’s Kids, 2012) This number seems to be only the tip of the iceberg considering there are forty-two schools in our district alone. It seems that with the small number of schools meeting these
References: American Heart Association. (2012). Childhood Obesity. Retrieved December 2012, from American Heart Association: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/WeightManagement/Obesity/Childhood-Obesity_UCM_304347_Article.jsp?gclid=CJfF3aSDjrQCFQf0nAodmHEAUw Fleischhacker, S. (2007). Food Fight: The Battle Over Redefining Competitive Foods. Journal of School Health . Jagersma, J., & Parsons, J. (2011). Empowering Students as Active Participants in Curriculum Design and Implementation. New Zealand Journal of Teachers Work . Katz, D., Katz, C., Treu, J., Reynolds, J., Njike, V., Walker, J., et al. (2011). Teaching Healthful Food Choices to Elementary School Students and Their Parents: The Nutrition Detectives™ Program. Journal of School Health . Let’s Move!: Two Years of Healthy Changes For Our Nation’s Kids. (2012). Retrieved from Let 's Move!: http://www.letsmove.gov/blog/2012/02/03/let%E2%80%99s-move-two-years-healthy-changes-our-nation%E2%80%99s-kids Story, M., Nanney, M., & Schwartz, M. (2009). Schools and Obesity Prevention: Creating School Environments and Policies to Promote Healthy Eating and Physical Activity. Milbank Quarterly . The Food Revolution Team. (2012). The School Day Just Got Healthier. Retrieved 2012, from Jamie Oliver 's Food Revolution: http://www.jamieoliver.com/us/foundation/jamies-food-revolution/news-content/new-school-year-new-menu-regulations United States Department of Agriculture Food and Consumer Services. (2012). Federal Child Nutrition Programs. Congressional Digest .