How should we modify school lunches and cafeteria food to reduce childhood obesity?

Question

How should we modify school lunches and cafeteria food to reduce childhood obesity?

Answer 1

Well unfortunately in our society - better nutrition = more money. They would have to increase taxes to accomodate the change, or else its still going to be the most volume of food for the dollar which means less nutrition for kids. Once they have more money, its actually easy to create healthier meal options. Fresh veggies and fruits, less sugary drinks and foods.

Answer 2

My daughters' schools offer salads on the school lunch menu....usually a chef salad with cheese and turkey sliced up in it, with packets of lowfat dressing.   My kids love salad, and will usually pick this meal.   It comes with breadsticks, so they have a pretty balanced meal.

They need to eliminate soda completely from schools.  Soda is probably one of the most harmful food items out there, in terms of sugar content and lack of nutritional value.   Baked chips should be substituted for regular chips.  The baked varieties come in all kinds of flavors now, like barbecue and sour cream/onion.  They have far less calories and fat.  Fresh fruit should be offered as a snack/dessert item on the school lunch menu.

There is also no need for kids to have a snack every morning in school!  I don't know where this came from.  When I was in school as a child, we only had a snack in kindergarten, because it was half-day kindergarten and there was no lunch.  Once we hit first grade, there was no snack time.  But now, kids are forced to bring a snack to school every day.  Why do they need it if they are eating three good meals?  Snacking is a contributing factor in obesity.  

Some schools have eliminated recess from the school day.  This in itself is even more harmful than some of the cafeteria items!  Children need to run and play outside to stay healthy and fit.

Answer 3

Start with less bread, I think. Not so many desserts with lots of calories that are pretty empty. Smaller portions. (i have found that very few young people have any idea of good portion size ideas). Less cokes, etc. in school vending machines, and more water with vitamins in there. In one school that I attended, the chips, etc. machine was replaced with a machine that gave apples, pickles, oranges, etc.. Some schools have breakfast programs, before school. I'd like to see more bananas and less bread, again with the bread.

Answer 4

You know honestly if you look at the menus on kids lunches these days -- the school lunches are not causing obesity!!! They are low in fat and reasonably decent lunches - not any worse or better than kids get at my house.

Obesity is caused by other factors- some genetic, some overeating and doing too little playing. Its caused by kids drinking 4 or 5 sodas a day or eating a whole bag of chips when they get home from school. Its spending all their money on candy at the store to eat while playing video games that night.

Sodas, candy, chips don't cause the obesity either --- overeating them, not haveing other good foods, too much soda, not enough activity does that. Not the lunch they eat at school.

Post scrip:  Maybe the lunches at your kids schools dont have "good" food but at our kids schools they get salad and fruit and real food. Not junk. No pop- no machines in the school for that- they can buy water, juice, milk, granola bars,

but no junk food. They can buy an apple or a dill pickle but no junk.

Answer 5

get rid of vending machines n don't allow the kids to bring junk food n candy to school

Answer 6

why is it the school lunches causing obesity?  what about genetics?  some people are obese because of a thyroid problem.  and then some kids are obese because their parents let them sit in the house and play video games.  make these children get up and get out side and run and play.

Answer 7

My kids school lunch menu has been modified : )

They don't use white bread or white pasta anymore..they use whole wheat only.

Answer 8

Why are people turning to the schools to reduce obesity?  The problem stems from the home.  It is impossible for the school (teachers) to correct all the damage that parents are doing to their children.  Obesity is only one example.

What about discipline, drug and alcohol abuse, bullying, work ethics, - the list goes on?  All these responsibilities are thrown at the schools.   Where are the parents' responsibilities?   I think it's time that we have 2 schools.  One for the kids that want to achieve academically and another for those with social problems.

Answer 9

To an extent schools do what they can nutrition wise.  It all boils down to the child's decision at school and that starts at home

Answer 10

easy throw out all the hot food, chips, soft drink and chocolate and any other c**p that is there.

bring in salad sandwiches and rolls, stir-frys, and any other vegetable dishes for hot foods, for snacks bring in fruit and a variety is better, also carrot sticks and youghurt. milk, water and juice for drinks.

or any other healthy ideas.

the quicker you do it the better it is for the kids unstead of gradually bringing it in. just like ripping off a band-aid the quicker you do it the less painfull it is!!