« School Lunch in America »

We Americans are the fattest people on earth.  You know that. I know that. But somehow we just keep chomping on bacon and big Macs and getting fatter and fatter. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost one-fifth of America’s children are obese — a condition that can lead to a shorter life span, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and a number of other health problems.

With this in mind, you would think that we would be feeding our kids healthy school lunches.  Well, some people are trying to make that happen— most notablly Michelle Obama as part of her Let’s Move campaign— but it isn’t coming along very fast.

In some schools, where the lunch program has been farmed out to private companies with an eye on the bottom line, children are forbidden to bring food from home and are required to eat the school lunch, even if it is usually heavy on starch and processed food and light on fruits, veggies and lean meat. In many of these same schools, there are soft drink vending machines in the cafeteria and sweet sugared beverages available.  

Add to that the fact that in these lean times, schools are getting rid of gym classes and athletics in an effort to save money and you have a recipe for disaster.We are not doing so well here in the land of the free and the home of the brave.  Our children are overfed and under-nourished for sure. 

One of the most exciting grass roots developments that has taken shape in the past few years is the farm to school movement in which school lunch programs get healthy fresh food from local sources usually at lower cost, especially with food miles factored in. 

If you want to do something about  school lunch in America, the Farm to School Website is a good place to start. They have a vision of strong local and regional food systems, and an impressive record of achievements.  You can help by volunteering, donating or just spreading the message.  Our children are our future, after all.