Junk food in schools
eDiets published an article about Texas Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs, who has been successful in eliminating junk food from schools in Texas. Despite opposition from lawmakers, administrators, and even parents, she has eliminated the sale of junk food from vending machines and the cafeteria, and put restrictions on bake sales at schools.
As much as I hate the “nanny-state”, and as much as this is one of the finest examples of the “nanny-state”, I have to say that I like it. My kids’ eating habits are bad enough, but with the way the schools administer lunches allows my kids way too much choice in their food. We have to deposit money into an account, and the kids are charged for what they take with no limitations placed by the school. Last week, we discovered the youngest had plowed through her account about twice as fast as the older one thanks to desserts.
She’s supposed to bringing lunch now.
But, I just don’t see the point of giving kids sugary, fatty foods at lunch. We know how bad it is for their health and we know how bad it is for their behavior. Maybe it would be harder and more expensive to prepare healthier meals (is it, really?), but isn’t it worth it?
Tags: diet, junk food, kids