The federal government is currently attempting to further restrict the lunch program they finance in public schools in order to reduce the growing phenomenon of childhood obesity in the United States.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the proposed rule changes would cost an additional $6.8 billion to the $11 billion a year school lunch program over the next five years, which equates to an added cost of about 14 cents per meal.
The proposed changes include negating the validity of a quarter-cup of tomato paste as a vegetable serving and cutting back on the amount of potatoes and other starches and replacing them with fresh peaches, spinach, apples and broccoli.
Many major food companies, including Coca-Cola, Del Monte foods and the makers of frozen pizza and French fries, are vehemently protesting the proposal, arguing that the added restrictions and new stipulations are too cost-prohibitive and that many students simply will not eat the new, healthier food if the changes are implemented.
The government’s idealistic approach to tackling child obesity in schools is an admirable attempt, but in reality, will most likely do little to change the affliction. The added cost would deter many students in low-income areas from buying school lunches at all, much less consider purchasing healthier options. Moreover, many of these food companies that have such a large stake in the school lunch program offer foods that are less than healthy, and if they throw their weight against the proposal, public schools would be the ones to suffer in the long run. Practically speaking, the food companies’ lobbying against the Department of Agriculture would likely put a stop to the proposal altogether, simply because of the vast amount of resources at these companies’ disposal.
Additionally, just because the option is placed before them does not mean that kids will suddenly start to eat healthier. Much of children’s eating habits stems from values taught to them in the home, not at school, and no program that the federal government implements will change that. Perhaps the feds should focus on heavier regulations for things like gym class, as it is something that can quite easily be controlled and manipulated. Schools could require physically challenging activities during gym class instead of things like scooter soccer, or they could even extend the gym period to ensure that students exercise for an adequate amount of time.
The federal government’s attempt at tackling obesity is admirable in its outlook, but overall impractical in the face of external factors surrounding healthy eating.
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