Throughout the United States, children are experiencing a decline in their health, and one contributing factor is that they are eating unhealthy school lunches every day. It is not a surprise that the number of children that are obese in this country has increased exponentially, given the kinds of food that are so prevalent in our society, specifically junk foods. Unfortunately, our schools have done nothing to combat this problem and in fact, may be contributing to it. 

Essentially, Children are exposed to " junk food," typically foods low in nutritional value and high in calories, sugars, unhealthy fats and artificial ingredients,  in school lunch lines.  They are choosing these options either because they are uneducated in the effects of these foods on their bodies or because healthy options are not offered in their cafeterias. Kids in cafeterias across the country are being failed every day by being fed junk foods that are making them obese, sick, and may affect their long-term health. Many schools have not implemented nutritional reforms because the expense has been too great for school budgets to handle. However, there have been a number of schools across the country that have taken on a healthy food initiative with success. It is imperative that all schools offer healthy options for their students because it leads to a healthy lifestyle. The alternative is a growing population of obese and sick youth.

To further examine this, it is essential to look at the government program that the United States department of Agriculture (USDA) put into place in 1946, called the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). According to the United States Department of Agriculture, as of 2016, the NSLP operated in over 100,000 public and nonprofit private schools, where they provided low-cost or free lunches to over 30.4 million children daily at the cost of $13.6 billion (USDA). These meals are required to meet nutritional standards, therefore, the options provided to the students in these schools are somewhat nutritious, versus the meals being offered in schools that are not participating in the NSLP. Not every school can afford to put this program into place and those that do many times must supplement the high cost by selling competitive foods in vending machines, to bring revenue back into their budget. 

Current cafeteria options typically feature a hot lunch and then an addition of a vegetable, starch, and a drink. The main course usually consists of greasy pre-heated pizza, chicken tenders, or mac and cheese with a side of mash potatoes or french fries, accompanied by broccoli covered in cheese, and a juice box or milk. This does not include competitive foods which are what is found in vending machines such as chips and candy. Some students love these options and eat them with no problem. Others, like students featured in an HBO Documentary about the growing obesity epidemic in America, said how they hated eating their school's lunch options because they were "disgusting" and "mass produced." The principal of the school was even quoted as saying, "If I eat the food here on a regular basis, I gain weight" (HBODocs). The reality is that students are not being provided the delicious, yet nutritious options that they deserve. Schools have an ethical obligation to provide a healthy environment for children just as they do their safety and well being. When children's only option is to eat these meals, they have no other choice but to harm their bodies. Filling a child's body with fatty, sodium and sugar- packed, processed foods leads to obesity, diabetes, heart problems, asthma and a host of other ailments. Also, eating these foods continually throughout childhood established a pattern of poor eating habits that will be difficult to sever as the child ages into adulthood. There must be a better way for children to consume "19 to 50 percent of their daily calories in the school cafeterias, according to the USDA" (Bornstein). Considering this mid-day meal is such a substantial part of their diet, it is crucial that it be nutritious. 

The problem with implementing healthier lunch programs is that they are very expensive and many school districts find themselves unable to compensate for the high cost. In the article "School Lunch Programs May Encourage Poor Nutrition" Donald Schumacher, M.D., medical director for the Center for Nutrition and Preventative Medicine, in Charlotte, North Carolina, is quoted with saying, "Schools lose money every day because it costs more money to prepare meals than the reimbursement they get from the federal government" (Bornstein). Thus explaining why schools are many times hesitant to implement the National School Lunch Program or any other healthy eating program because it comes at a high cost. "In 2008, the government increased the NSLP subsidy to schools, to $2.57 per meal per student, but the cost to prepare the lunches rose to $2.88. And while schools that purchase foods directly from the USDA receive an additional 20 cents per meal, they're still at an 11-cent deficit" (Bornstein). "That amount might seem trivial, but multiply it by the 29.6 million children participating in the NSLP, and it comes out to a daily nationwide deficit of $3.2 million. For perspective, a middle school with 1,000 students would be $19,800 in the hole after just one year" (Bornstein). Therefore, as one can see, school boards must decide on a budget every year, and for school districts that do not have much money, this program more than likely would not be implemented considering there are so many expenses that schools must pay. Due to these cost constraints, school foodservice programs continue to face challenges to provide healthy and appealing meals that encourage student participation (USDA).  

It is no lie that you are what you eat. When one is filling their body with nutrient-rich vegetables and high protein foods, one feels more motivated, energetic, proactive and prepared. By removing unhealthy options from school cafeterias and exposing them to healthier options, it will improve their classroom performance. Jeffrey Smith, superintendent of the Balsz schools, commented on the relationship between nutrition and academics. "If kids are healthy, they will learn more and will be more successful," says Smith (Kisch).  Physical education teacher Becky Burgoyne was quoted as saying, "To have a healthy body is to have a healthy brain, and therefore they become better at reading and math and science. It all works together." (Seidl). Therefore, it is evident that the human body performs based on what is put into it. It is no secret that people just feel better in general when they eat healthier, therefore influencing their day to day lives. If kids are not eating because they do not have healthy options, then they go through the day feeling hungry, light headed, and tired. On the other hand, if they eat the processed and unhealthy choices offered, they come to class feeling sluggish, bloated, or fatigued. Neither of these scenarios is beneficial to children's' health or academic performance.

The task of removing all competitive foods or cheap junk food might seem daunting. However, there have been several school districts that have adopted new food alternatives that are healthy and attractive to students. Some have become aware of the growing obesity epidemic and have taken initiatives to eliminate or remove all unhealthy options from schools. School districts that are afraid that they would lose revenue from vending machines can take a lesson from Northeast Elementary in Danville, Illinois. It received an award from the Alliance for a Healthier Generation for its move toward making its school environment healthier. The award was money that the school could use toward its budget to maintain its healthy food initiative. What is encouraging about this is that any district can accomplish what Northeast Elementary did. "Northeast Elementary is not in some posh, progressive suburb. It's in Danville, Ill., an economically struggling city of 30,000 in farm country some 150 miles south of Chicago. But teachers, parents, and students have embraced the rigorous curriculum, and kids even call it ‘fun.'" (Seidl). Another fun way for students to get excited about living a healthy lifestyle is by doing walk-a-thons to raise money. This way students can get active and participate in raising funds for their schools. 

Charlyn Hester, whose two children attend Northeast,  says that since the school adopted this healthy program, her family has switched to eating much healthier at home. Hester says that since her family made the switch, they have all slimmed down (Seidl). This is just one example of when schools make healthy eating a priority by eliminating junk food options, it benefits the students in and out of the classroom and teaches them better eating habits. 

Many will argue that it is not the responsibility of schools to determine what students eat and that the focus of schools should be on academics. However, it is clear that filling young bodies and brains with junk food will not result in academic success, so if schools are truly tasked with helping students achieve their learning potential, then the nutrition component must be addressed. 

Overall, the health and well being of the future generation is imperative and it is crucial that the educators and board members of school districts across the country take part in ensuring this. It has become American culture to be known globally as heavy, overweight, McDonald's eating dumb people. It is time for a call to action to end this epidemic once and for all. It starts with being proactive and changing the mentality in schools that students will not be failed here, they will be active, they will be healthy, and they will learn. Students in cafeterias across the country are being added to the problem, not being a catalyst in the solution. It is imperative that each and every child is safe when they go to school, and that should include the safety of their health and well-being. 
