Should the Sale of Junk Food Be Banned in Schools? Essay Example
Should the Sale of Junk Food be Banned in Schools?
The argument as to whether or not schools should be able to sell junk food is a highly controversial topic. Sugar-filled snacks, sugary drinks, and snacks high in saturated fat are a favorite among children. In most cases, when faced with the decision, a child will no doubt choose a bag of chips over an apple. What would a change in the availability of these snacks teach children? Some argue that removing these snacks from schools takes away parental rights, but a parent should want what is best for their child. Although the selling of unhealthy foods serves as a source for additional revenue for schools, school administrators should ban the sale of items that promote an unhealthy lifestyle. Not only does junk food cause unhealthy eating habits that lead to child hood obesity, but it also contributes to health issues such as diabetes, heart disease, and various forms of cancer.
Undeniably the adding of vending machines in order to sell soda and junk food in our schools would generate more funding for our schools, but at what price? Children’s obesity rates are higher than they ever been. “The American Obesity Association estimates that 15 percent of children between six and nineteen suffer from obesity (Lee and Sprague 2). These numbers are only going to increase with the help of snacks in schools. A 2002 study showed that ¾ of schools were using vending machines and 98% of vending machines consist of junk food (Lee 2). A solution to the problem would be placing healthier choices inside vending machines such as nuts, dried fruit, and yogurt. This way everyone wins. The schools will still raise necessary funds and the students will learn good eating habits. Another way of helping the students stay healthy is if schools banned all fried foods and start off with other smaller changes such as using low fat cheese on burgers and pizzas, switching from white bread to 100% wheat bread, using all natural jelly on
The argument as to whether or not schools should be able to sell junk food is a highly controversial topic. Sugar-filled snacks, sugary drinks, and snacks high in saturated fat are a favorite among children. In most cases, when faced with the decision, a child will no doubt choose a bag of chips over an apple. What would a change in the availability of these snacks teach children? Some argue that removing these snacks from schools takes away parental rights, but a parent should want what is best for their child. Although the selling of unhealthy foods serves as a source for additional revenue for schools, school administrators should ban the sale of items that promote an unhealthy lifestyle. Not only does junk food cause unhealthy eating habits that lead to child hood obesity, but it also contributes to health issues such as diabetes, heart disease, and various forms of cancer.
Undeniably the adding of vending machines in order to sell soda and junk food in our schools would generate more funding for our schools, but at what price? Children’s obesity rates are higher than they ever been. “The American Obesity Association estimates that 15 percent of children between six and nineteen suffer from obesity (Lee and Sprague 2). These numbers are only going to increase with the help of snacks in schools. A 2002 study showed that ¾ of schools were using vending machines and 98% of vending machines consist of junk food (Lee 2). A solution to the problem would be placing healthier choices inside vending machines such as nuts, dried fruit, and yogurt. This way everyone wins. The schools will still raise necessary funds and the students will learn good eating habits. Another way of helping the students stay healthy is if schools banned all fried foods and start off with other smaller changes such as using low fat cheese on burgers and pizzas, switching from white bread to 100% wheat bread, using all natural jelly on