Memorandum - National School Lunch Program
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tmarkham_-_powerpoint_-_unit_4.pptxSchool Lunch Program
Problems affecting student eating habits.
Solutions to problem affecting students healthy eating.
Toby Markham
Kaplan University
National school lunch program
This is a program that has been put in place to help enhance student healthy eating habit.
The program ensure the right proportions of nutrients are put in the meals.
This program has faced some challenges like students failing to pay for the program.
Students from rich families opt to take food at home and skip school food.
National lunch program is a program introduced in schools to help prepare healthy foods for the learners. This program has been faced with challenges like student not wanting to participate in the program. Mostly student from rich families do not want to participate while children from low income family want to participate. These student are stigmatized since other students are buying their own food (Gordon, 2003).
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Issues related to unhealthy eating
Issue of obesity has been on rise as a result of unhealthy eating habits in schools
Students from rich families tends to take junks or eat at home and skip school lunch.
Student from poor or low income families tend to pay for school foods unlike children from rich families.
National lunch program has faced stigmatization.
Unhealthy eating leads to obesity which ahs become a major issue today. Student have access to junk foods which are high in calories value and forego school lunch
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Obesity problem
Obesity condition has been at rise for the last many years.
Availability of junk foods which are high in calories value has lead to increased students cases of obesity.
Problem associated with children school diet is obesity caused by consumption of unhealthy processed food such as canning, freezing and milling.
These food are very high on calories.
Availability of junk foods in schools ahs been the major cause of unhealthy eating leading to obesity condition increase
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Other Problems
Students from rich family view healthy eating as denial of their favorite delicacies and are not willing to let go of these foods.
In many schools there is presence of venders machine and cafes which are always ready to provide junk foods.
Students who participate in healthy eating programs feel stigmatized since others are buying their own foods.
Attitude that healthy eating habit is seen as punishment by many student and are not ready to participate in the program. Sometime they eat at home and forego school meals.
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How to enhance healthy eating
Ensure that vending machines and café are eradicated from the school vicinity.
Directors should ensure that the cooks use right proportion in making foods.
Prices of foods in school should be reduced so that all students can afford the food.
Program management of national school lunch program should ensure continuous improvement of foods offered in school.
To solve the problem of unhealthy eating in schools cafes and vending machines in schools should be eliminated. Also the food quality should be improved to encourage all students to participate in the healthy eating program. Prices of food should be made affordable for all the students. (Carolyn,2012)
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Does government have a part to play?
Government should help improve lunch programs by ensuring availability of fruits and vegetables.
Foods with saturated fats, sodium and trans fats should be reduced.
Students should be educated on the importance of healthy eating habits.
Government should ensure that the agricultural sector is doing well so that agricultural products are readily available. A law should be put in place to ensure production of healthy foods. Any company or person producing unhealthy foods should face the law.
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To reduce unhealthy eating habits and enhance healthy eating directors should ensure that they are offering standard food that meets the USDA standards.
Introduction and encouraging schools to adopt a healthy eating program through the incorporation of healthy foods on to their diet.
Some organizations have set standards that are suppose to be followed so that one remains healthy. If these guidelines are followed to the letter ,the cases of diseases related to unhealthy eating will be a thing of past. One can even come up with a time table which can help in ensuring that one eat healthy food.
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Issue of negative attitude towards national school lunch program
Students should to made aware of the importance of healthy diet.
By educating student on the importance of healthy foods will help them change their negative attitude towards this program.
Parents should also play a major part in promoting healthy eating by not allowing their children have junk foods or give them money to buy some
Student should be encourage to view healthy eating program as a chance to explore other foods. If students view this from that direction then there would be no problem in adopting healthy eating program.
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How a healthy plate should be.
The diagram shows the right proportions of foods. Healthy eating ensure a healthy life. (Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010)
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References
Carolyn D (2012)Nutrition Decisions: Eat Smart, Move More. Jones & Bartlett Publishers.
Sizer. F and Ellie. W (2006)Nutrition Concepts and Controversies, MyPyramid Update. Cengage Learning.
Wener H and Hoeger .S(2014)Lifetime Physical Fitness and Wellness: A Personalized Program. Cengage Learning.
