Summary: A Deep Fried Nightmare
Leah VanLandingham
Mr. McGuire
American Government
12 September 2013
A Deep Fried Nightmare For the past few decades, obesity has been a major concern in America. Processed and fatty foods seem to be taking over life as we know it. There is no time and not enough currency in the fast paced American lifestyle to purchase and prepare a healthy, expensive, and nutritious meal, nor does a nutritious meal sound appealing to the oncoming generations. They have been spoon-fed preservatives and insoluble fats since adolescence. Could this be the reason kids refuse to eat healthy when offered a healthy alternative in places such as school cafeterias? Children of today’s generation seem to pass up the carrots and go straight for the fries. School …show more content…
What do these guidelines have in store? A lunch that is healthier, smaller in portions sizes, and more expensive than they ever were before. This has the kids of public schools, particularly high schools, shaking with anger. The high school kids can say goodbye to their beloved cheesy nachos, fried potatoes, and greasy white bread crusted pizza. Limits on fat and sodium have caused for a dramatic change on the menus at many high schools. The menus went from high calorie and fat filled, to whole-wheat breaded pizza and low-fat dairy options, now to eliminating pizza and other fatty “unnecessary” foods completely off the menu. Calorie restrictions are top priority, making it so high calorie substances such as carbohydrates and meats are served in pathetic portion sizes. One student from Automotive High School in Brooklyn made a very accurate statement, ‘”Before, there was no taste and no flavor, now, there’s no taste, no flavor and it’s healthy, which makes it taste even worse.”’ Students in Pittsburgh even went as far as conducting lunch strikes, which dropped lunch program participation at their schools by 70%. The prices of lunches have skyrocketed substantially in contrast to the reduced portion sizes; essentially the students are paying more money for less food. Middle schools students, along with many high school students, have admitted to trashing the healthy additives that they are required to take. In this case, the students may not be consuming all of the calories being served to them. Food service directors have made various attempts to sell the students tickets to the health food bandwagon, such as handing out free samples and conducting taste tests. The districts have come to terms and accepted that the children will not be too keen of a healthy lunch at
Mr. McGuire
American Government
12 September 2013
A Deep Fried Nightmare For the past few decades, obesity has been a major concern in America. Processed and fatty foods seem to be taking over life as we know it. There is no time and not enough currency in the fast paced American lifestyle to purchase and prepare a healthy, expensive, and nutritious meal, nor does a nutritious meal sound appealing to the oncoming generations. They have been spoon-fed preservatives and insoluble fats since adolescence. Could this be the reason kids refuse to eat healthy when offered a healthy alternative in places such as school cafeterias? Children of today’s generation seem to pass up the carrots and go straight for the fries. School …show more content…
What do these guidelines have in store? A lunch that is healthier, smaller in portions sizes, and more expensive than they ever were before. This has the kids of public schools, particularly high schools, shaking with anger. The high school kids can say goodbye to their beloved cheesy nachos, fried potatoes, and greasy white bread crusted pizza. Limits on fat and sodium have caused for a dramatic change on the menus at many high schools. The menus went from high calorie and fat filled, to whole-wheat breaded pizza and low-fat dairy options, now to eliminating pizza and other fatty “unnecessary” foods completely off the menu. Calorie restrictions are top priority, making it so high calorie substances such as carbohydrates and meats are served in pathetic portion sizes. One student from Automotive High School in Brooklyn made a very accurate statement, ‘”Before, there was no taste and no flavor, now, there’s no taste, no flavor and it’s healthy, which makes it taste even worse.”’ Students in Pittsburgh even went as far as conducting lunch strikes, which dropped lunch program participation at their schools by 70%. The prices of lunches have skyrocketed substantially in contrast to the reduced portion sizes; essentially the students are paying more money for less food. Middle schools students, along with many high school students, have admitted to trashing the healthy additives that they are required to take. In this case, the students may not be consuming all of the calories being served to them. Food service directors have made various attempts to sell the students tickets to the health food bandwagon, such as handing out free samples and conducting taste tests. The districts have come to terms and accepted that the children will not be too keen of a healthy lunch at