THE JUNK FOOD CHRONICLES
While the recent "soda ban" has brought much-needed attention to the issue of junk food in schools, some teachers think it's not enough. The blogger at Are We Doing Anything Today? argues that it's time for simple, sane alternatives to the Cheetos dipped in cream cheese and two-for-75 cents cookies that students eat at lunch. The demand for healthier food is certainly there:
My students frequently ask for my food. They snack on my dried fruit and nuts, eat my extra apples.
It is a shame that the big bucks of crappy food overrides our need for healthy food in schools, and that we continue to tout soda as the culprit of our kids (and our own) weight problems.
Of course, the blogger points out, there might be such a thing as taking it too far. Santa Clara Unified Schools in California have proposed a total ban on all junk food in school at all times. Another Bay Area school holds "carrot parties" "whenever possible."
Happy birthday, kid. Have a carrot.
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Comments
The blogger is Fred the Fish, or Mrs. Fish, depending on how I post.
Posted by: fred the fish | June 4, 2006 12:05 PM
We just spent our first year in a new school with no soda or candy machines. The new USDA Healthy Guidelines will help a healthy student iniative we have already started. I work in Navajo Land and our children and staff are threatened with diabetes. It's not a choice to do this it is necessary for student and staff health.
Posted by: Dianne Owens | June 15, 2006 10:55 AM
I have a question. Are carrots considered a junk food?
Posted by: Leon | April 19, 2007 6:56 PM