Study: healthier school lunches needed
Back when I was in school -- no need to specify when -- lunches consisted of a rectangular block of pizza and milk (chocolate if it was Friday!). On some days I don't recall a single vegetable on my plate.
School lunches have improved since then, but they have a ways to go as far as nutrition is concerned, according to a new study by the Institute of Medicine, that urges new dietary standards. The current guidelines -- which set the standard for school lunches for some 30.5 million children and breakfasts for another 10.5 million -- haven't been changed since 1995, the report states.
The report recommends that lunches have more fruit, vegetables and whole grains and less saturated fat and sodium. Right now, there are no requirements for whole grains and fruit and veggies are counted in the same category. While the current guidelines set minimum calories needed, there is no maximum set.
The current guidelines don't specify limits for sodium, either. Right now, a typical high school lunch contains about 1,600 milligrams of sodium. The new recommendations say the limit should be more than half that amount at 740 milligrams.
Making these changes will mean an increase in the cost of providing these meals -- but the changes are necessary, the report states. Considering the growing child obesity levels, teaching children to eat right early is important.
"The programs that nourish so many American schoolchildren need to reflect the latest child health and nutrition science given the extent to which dietary habits shape lifelong health, said Virginia A. Stallings, of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and chairwoman of the committee that wrote the report.
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Comments
Eating healthy should begin at home. The sad part is some parents let kids eat whatever they want to keep peace in the home or can't afford the fresh fruits and vegetables. Fast food is sometimes cheaper and easier to prepare. School lunches have always gotten a bad rap. Often considered "nasty" or "bad' by some students, yet they eat it. If a child can get atleast one nutritious meal a day in school, I believe it's worth the cost. In the long run we all will have to pay for the effect childhood obesity will have on healthcare.
Posted by: Carolyn | October 20, 2009 5:10 PM
I have been pretty shocked when reading the menus at my son's county public school. They sound just like the stuff we ate 30 years ago. No way I'm letting him eat chicken nuggets and greasy pizza at school. I figured schools would know better by now. Apparently, they don't.
Posted by: Stephanie | October 21, 2009 9:58 AM
what about food that kids really like? Can you severe it on maybe good days?
Posted by: Anonymous | October 29, 2009 9:39 AM