Lately the media has reported new findings regarding the rise in
childhood diabetes and its dire consequences. This news has once again
sounded the alarm about the growing epidemic of obesity in our children
and youth. The problem is so serious that experts are recommending
drastic changes in the way our children eat. But could complacency,
denial, and ignorance among the adult population be hindering our young
people from getting the help and education they need to make these
drastic changes?
Dinner Tables and School Cafeteria Trays
During a recent school-screening visit to a high-ranking eastern college for one of my daughters, I had the opportunity to raise questions about the quality of the food available through the campus cafeteria. Was the food being served at their school free from pesticides? Was it non-GMO? What about meat sources? Were the students being served factory farm animals injected with hormones and antibiotics? Were there natural, healthy and organic food options available in the cafeteria--as adopted by some of the more cutting-edge schools across the nation such as Yale, UC Berkley, Duke and Oberlin Colleges?
The question seemed to stump the college staff member. She said she wasn't sure of the quality of the food in the cafeteria. She didn't know if there was any kind of focus being placed on providing students with natural, vegetarian or organic options. It was not clear that the school provided nutritional fare that addressed some of the grave health concerns that are confronting Americans at younger and younger ages... visions of an array of fried foods, processed starches, and sugary desserts covering cafeteria trays swam before my eyes.
This reaction seems somewhat typical of school professionals at every educational level. I recently had the opportunity to ask food service directors of our local educational institutions about nutritional quality and education in elementary, middle and high schools. I was told that kids wouldn't eat healthy-looking food and that they only wanted the kind of food you could find in any fast-food restaurant. Further, they implied that it was not the responsibility of the school system to provide healthy food options for kids. That's the parent's job.
While I agree that healthy eating habits start at home and that parents need to demonstrate them for their children in the kitchen and at the dinner table, it doesn't dismiss our educational system from its responsibility to teach good nutrition. Our schools must provide information and training about the elements of a good diet and must lead by example. That means clean, healthy cafeteria food. And healthy does not and should not imply "unappealing to kid's taste buds". Healthy, natural food, prepared with good recipes, can be far more delicious than the fast food that now holds sway on the school cafeteria lunch menu.
Sadly, political concerns have impeded the progress of the campaign for better school food. We cannot afford to turn a blind eye to this important issue and allow big food conglomerates to dominate school cafeteria fare simply by default.
Healthy Eating from Romper Room to Retirement
A foundation for lifelong healthy eating begins in early childhood. If we introduce kids to healthy, natural foods, give them dietary knowledge, and teach them how to prepare delicious meals, they are likely to carry good eating habits forward into adulthood.
Taking children to the local Farmer's Market to shop for produce, is an example of expanding on the way we learn about and shop for food.
We need a revolutionary approach to changing our food system. Taking on cafeteria school food is vital if we are to stave off childhood overweight, malnutrition, and illnesses caused by poor quality nutrition for our youth. The evolution of food on our planet depends on a gentle but firm revolution in the market, the kitchen, and in the cafeteria.
Dinner Tables and School Cafeteria Trays
During a recent school-screening visit to a high-ranking eastern college for one of my daughters, I had the opportunity to raise questions about the quality of the food available through the campus cafeteria. Was the food being served at their school free from pesticides? Was it non-GMO? What about meat sources? Were the students being served factory farm animals injected with hormones and antibiotics? Were there natural, healthy and organic food options available in the cafeteria--as adopted by some of the more cutting-edge schools across the nation such as Yale, UC Berkley, Duke and Oberlin Colleges?
The question seemed to stump the college staff member. She said she wasn't sure of the quality of the food in the cafeteria. She didn't know if there was any kind of focus being placed on providing students with natural, vegetarian or organic options. It was not clear that the school provided nutritional fare that addressed some of the grave health concerns that are confronting Americans at younger and younger ages... visions of an array of fried foods, processed starches, and sugary desserts covering cafeteria trays swam before my eyes.
This reaction seems somewhat typical of school professionals at every educational level. I recently had the opportunity to ask food service directors of our local educational institutions about nutritional quality and education in elementary, middle and high schools. I was told that kids wouldn't eat healthy-looking food and that they only wanted the kind of food you could find in any fast-food restaurant. Further, they implied that it was not the responsibility of the school system to provide healthy food options for kids. That's the parent's job.
While I agree that healthy eating habits start at home and that parents need to demonstrate them for their children in the kitchen and at the dinner table, it doesn't dismiss our educational system from its responsibility to teach good nutrition. Our schools must provide information and training about the elements of a good diet and must lead by example. That means clean, healthy cafeteria food. And healthy does not and should not imply "unappealing to kid's taste buds". Healthy, natural food, prepared with good recipes, can be far more delicious than the fast food that now holds sway on the school cafeteria lunch menu.
Sadly, political concerns have impeded the progress of the campaign for better school food. We cannot afford to turn a blind eye to this important issue and allow big food conglomerates to dominate school cafeteria fare simply by default.
Healthy Eating from Romper Room to Retirement
A foundation for lifelong healthy eating begins in early childhood. If we introduce kids to healthy, natural foods, give them dietary knowledge, and teach them how to prepare delicious meals, they are likely to carry good eating habits forward into adulthood.
Taking children to the local Farmer's Market to shop for produce, is an example of expanding on the way we learn about and shop for food.
We need a revolutionary approach to changing our food system. Taking on cafeteria school food is vital if we are to stave off childhood overweight, malnutrition, and illnesses caused by poor quality nutrition for our youth. The evolution of food on our planet depends on a gentle but firm revolution in the market, the kitchen, and in the cafeteria.
Diane Hoch, CHC, founded The Food Evolution in 2010, and is
currently its CEO. The Food Evolution is a nutrition & cooking
center in Bardonia, NY that helps educate individuals and families in
healthful eating habits and delicious meal preparation. The Center is
dedicated to fostering the peaceful progress of food evolution on our
planet. http://thefoodevolution.com
In her business as well as personal life, Diane is a passionate advocate for advancing a new, eco-conscious food system. She is also an ardent crusader for better school food and is actively committed to nutrition education for children and their parents.
Through her private practice as a nutritional health counselor and her work with The Rockland Coalition for Better School Food, The Rockland Farm Alliance, and The Rockland County School Health and Wellness Coalition, Diane has been actively spreading the message of "whole foods" nutrition throughout her local communities.
To find out more about The Food Evolution Nutrition and Cooking Center in Rockland County, New York and classes on healthy eating habits combined with delicious and elegant meal preparation visit: http://thefoodevolution.com
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Diane_Hoch
In her business as well as personal life, Diane is a passionate advocate for advancing a new, eco-conscious food system. She is also an ardent crusader for better school food and is actively committed to nutrition education for children and their parents.
Through her private practice as a nutritional health counselor and her work with The Rockland Coalition for Better School Food, The Rockland Farm Alliance, and The Rockland County School Health and Wellness Coalition, Diane has been actively spreading the message of "whole foods" nutrition throughout her local communities.
To find out more about The Food Evolution Nutrition and Cooking Center in Rockland County, New York and classes on healthy eating habits combined with delicious and elegant meal preparation visit: http://thefoodevolution.com
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You have succeeded in life when all you really want is only what you really need.