A healthy body is home to a healthy mind as the saying goes, and that couldn’t be more accurate. In America, fitness is heavily promoted and encouraged. Healthy eating and healthy living is becoming a more and more popular trend, especially when it comes to America’s  youth. The problem is that schools are promoting a healthy lifestyle while practicing the opposite. Processed foods high in fat, sugar, and salt have become a staple in schools across the country. Students have no healthy option and are basically forced to choose between the lesser of two evils when ordering food. Childhood obesity is a major problem in America and school lunches are one of the main causes. Childhood obesity causes problems that a child could have for the rest of their life and possibly even end it. Is it not hypocritical for schools to support a healthy lifestyle and then do nothing to make that happen? Studies show that kids with healthy diets are able to focus better and retain more information which is why it’s absurd to keep serving unhealthy food. Schools are sending students back to class after lunch without the proper capability to learn. Unhealthy school lunches are a problem because they are one of the main causes of childhood obesity, impair a child's learning ability, more expensive, and keep kids from getting all the health benefits healthy foods have.

Unhealthy school lunches need to change for a lot of reasons, arguably the most important being childhood obesity which is a major problem in America. In 2015, 23% of all kids under the age of 18 or 73,616,759 children were considered obese, most of whom will experience health problems. (“Total population by child and adult populations | KIDS COUNT Data Center.”, datacenter.kidscount.org) Some of the negative physical consequences of childhood obesity is insulin resistance, Type 2 Diabetes, Asthma, Hypertension, high LDL Cholesterol & Triglyceride levels in the blood,  low HDL Cholesterol levels in the blood, Sleep Apnea, Early Puberty and more. (“Childhood Overweight”, www.obesity.org)  While many of the symptoms of childhood obesity affect the physical health of a child, some affect the mental health as well. Some mental health symptoms of childhood obesity are Depressive symptoms, poor body image, low self esteem, a higher risk of Eating Disorders, and behavior & learning problems. (“Childhood Overweight”, www.obesity.org) More than that most of  the children who are obese will continue to be obese as adults and are at risk for more serious and life threatening diseases such as heart disease, strokes, and cancer. (“Childhood Overweight”, www.obesity.org) Foods higher in calories, fats, and sugars are a main cause and are the same foods that are being served in schools across the country while healthy foods like fruits and vegetables that can prevent such diseases aren’t. Why are schools doing this? Well for a whole number of reasons. 

One reason is that schools tend to focus more on nutrients rather than the food as a whole. Schools want whatever will save them the most money and only attempt to meet the minimum guidelines instead of focusing on finding higher quality/organic foods to serve. (“Healthy Eating Plate & Healthy Eating Pyramid.”, www.hsph.harvard.edu) Another reason is because of unregulated suppliers.  Schools lunch distribution is managed by the US Department of Agriculture or USDA which is responsible for over 94,000 schools nationwide. (“What Cause Unhealthy School Lunches?”, www.newkidscenter.com) Most of the foods purchased by the USDA are processed foods such as meats and cheeses. Processing a food adds more sodium fat, and sugar that all negatively impact a child's health. (“What Cause Unhealthy School Lunches?”, www.newkidscenter.com) Probably the most childhood shattering and life-changing reason is because of the food pyramid. When being designed, the food pyramid had a lot of input from many different food industries like the meat and dairy industries and is completely inaccurate, yet is still being taught by schools and ultimately misinforming America’s youth. (“Healthy Eating Plate & Healthy Eating Pyramid.”, www.hsph.harvard.edu) Schools are a main cause of childhood obesity and are doing a disservice to their students by knowingly serving them foods that can have a negative impact on their present and future lives. Your development depends on the foods you eat.

Another reason why school lunches need to change is because unhealthy foods impair a child’s ability to learn and negatively impact a developing mind. Unhealthy foods lacking in vitamins and high in fats such as Chicken Nuggets, Cheeseburgers, and French Fries have become staple foods in cafeterias across America. Iron deficiency, even in early stages, can decrease dopamine transmission, in turn negatively impacting cognition. Deficiencies in other vitamins and minerals, specifically thiamine, vitamin E, vitamin B, iodine, and zinc, are shown to inhibit cognitive abilities and mental concentration. (Burrows, T., pp. 117–140.) Foods high in sugar and fat, like the ones served in school lunches, deplete energy levels and the ability to concentrate for extended periods of time. (Luscombe, Belinda. “Kids Who Eat More Fast Food Get Worse Grades.”, time.com)  Schools are literally lowering a child’s brain power in a place that's supposed to increase it. The ability for a child to focus in school is imperative for their ability to learn and retain information, especially because kids are still growing and developing. One theory that links saturated fats and brain power is the effects of glucose and sugars in the higher-fat foods. Glucose comes from carbohydrates and provide the body with energy. While it is vital for energy, foods that contain high amounts of Glucose actually decrease the body’s energy levels. As glucose is ingested, the body releases insulin in order to process the food that was just eaten. Normally, after a healthy meal, glucose levels should rise slightly, and a body should feel energized after taking in nutrition. However, children with high Glucose diets can crash after eating. During a crash the body begins to shut down as it’s processing all the Glucose. Effects of this are lethargy, irritability, headache, fatigue, light headedness, confusion, difficulty concentrating, and anxiety, all of which can impair a child’s ability to learn effectively. (Croddy, Kristi. “Feeling Dizzy & Fatigued After Meals.”, www.livestrong.com) Foods high in Glucose like Fried foods, Soda, and candy are all common options in school cafeterias with no healthy alternatives for the child to choose. Occasionally eating foods high in Glucose is ok, but having a diet that consists of eating foods with high amount of Glucose is very detrimental to a child’s health and can cause damage to kidneys, blood vessels, eyes, and nerves that can last the child’s whole life and be irreversible.(“Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act.”, www.fns.usda.gov)  If school’s really care about a child’s education then they need to stop serving unhealthy foods.

One of the main reasons schools aren’t serving healthier food at lunch is because it’s supposedly more “Cost Effective,” to serve what they do now. This, however, couldn’t be further from the truth. In 2010, the USDA passed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act that could save billions of dollars in future health care costs. Initially, this plan is going to cost almost $7 billion over the first five years which is not inexpensive at all. About half of that cost is going to putting more fresh produce in school lunches across America. $7 billion seems like a lot just to give kids more fruits and vegetables for lunch, but when compared to the lifelong consequences that having an unhealthy diet as a kid can cause, it’s a no brainer. Healthier school lunches are also cheaper when taking into account medical costs. Diet related medical costs of four serious illnesses -  cancer, diabetes, coronary heart disease, and stroke - add up to almost $38 billion a year. Obesity alone is over $100 billion. Compared to these $7 billion really doesn’t even come close. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act increased federal spending of six cents per meal. That itself would cover part of the $7 billion bill, however, the USDA projects that the school food plan would cost 15 cents more per lunch including all food and labor costs.  Even though the price of lunch will increase we will still be short by about $6.5 billion when the 5 years are over. How are we going to get the money to cover the rest? The USDA is more than capable of covering it. Each year the USDA wastes $5 billion on farming operations that raise livestock and produce over-processed, nutrient poor foods. These are the same unhealthy foods that are being served in school lunchrooms all over the countries. If it seems like it doesn’t make sense that the government is spending money on what they're trying to get rid of, it's because it doesn’t. $700 million is all that would be needed and we’d be able to pay that $7 billion. Money shouldn’t even be the issue when it comes to the health of America's youth. If the government is actually serious about getting America healthier, than they can spare a measly $700 million to ensure a healthy lifestyle.(“Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act.”, www.fns.usda.gov) 

My final reason why schools need to serve healthier lunches is because of the benefits healthy food has on a developing body and mind. Whole, unprocessed foods provide dense macro- and micronutrients which your child needs to grow and develop. (Myszko, Amy. “How Healthy & Unhealthy Foods Affect Children.”, healthyeating.sfgate.com) As I explained above children with an unhealthy diet have a harder time learning than kids with a healthy diet. Children with healthier diets learn and retain information better, perform better on tests, and tend to have less behavioral problems. Cholesterol from healthy foods such as eggs and nuts helps build brain tissue. Omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon, walnuts, sea vegetables and flax seeds promote healthy brain development. (Wolpert, Stuart. “Scientists Learn How What You Eat Affects Your Brain - and Those of Your Kids.”, newsroom.ucla.edu) Whole, unprocessed foods are more likely to have healthy levels of vitamins and minerals when compared to regular processed foods. The vitamins found in healthy foods are key to the development and growth and development of a child’s mind. Amino acid and carbohydrates can improve perception, intuition, and reasoning. (Wolpert, Stuart. “Scientists Learn How What You Eat Affects Your Brain - and Those of Your Kids.”, newsroom.ucla.edu) Better nutrition preps students brains so they show up to school ready and able to learn. Because students with better nutrition are healthier, they are likely to attend school more often and have less absences. Students with malnutrition on the other hand are not as likely and suffer from more frequent illnesses. Students with malnutrition also tend to have more behavioral problems. (Luscombe, Belinda. “Kids Who Eat More Fast Food Get Worse Grades.”, time.com) Sugar especially has a negative effect on a child’s behavior. All these effects can be reversed with a well balanced diet that consists of protein, fat, complex carbs, and fiber. Students who are healthier tend to cause fewer disruptions in class and have a better behavior overall. (Luscombe, Belinda. “Kids Who Eat More Fast Food Get Worse Grades.”, time.com) Every student should have the opportunity to perform well in school. Not providing students good nutrition puts them at a higher risk for missing that opportunity. However, if schools take action today to change what they're currently serving and provide healthier choices, they can help to set students up for a successful future and a healthier future full of possibilities.

Moderation is key. This applies to a lot of things in life but especially when it comes to what you eat. My main point in this essay has been to show the effects that an unhealthy diet has and why schools need to start serving healthier foods that benefit and not hinder kids development. However, in moderation, fast food or unhealthy food can actually do the same. Eating something unhealthy that you enjoy can trigger a dopamine release in your brain and lead to an increase in happiness and overall mood, but also making it harder to resist eating the same food again. (Gowin, Joshua. “7 Reasons We Can't Turn Down Fast Food.”, www.psychologytoday.com)  Once it becomes more than just, “in moderation,” though, the negative effects start to happen.

You get out what you put in. This statement can be applied to so many things but none more important than your health and the food that you eat.  Food is fuel and we need to be making sure we’re putting the right fuel in our bodies, especially children. Children are still developing, physically and mentally, and need to have the right nutrients that will help them grow and get stronger. Schools across America are serving unhealthy foods high in fats and sugars that are negatively affecting a student's learning ability and health. Schools are a place of learning yet they are impairing the learning ability of every student they serve lunch to. Not only are they hurting the child’s ability to learn, but their health as well. Childhood obesity is a major problem in America and school lunches are one of the biggest contributor. Childhood obesity can cause short and long term health effects that can stay with the child their whole life, potentially ending it some day. These unhealthy lunches are being served to “save money”, when in actuality, if  you take into account the medical costs that someone who eats these lunches and has an unhealthy diet will have to pay in their lifetime, it is not even close. Health needs to become the main focus, not the cost. If the government has enough money to dish out on making and processing this garbage, they have enough to reverse the damage they’ve done. Schools are doing a disservice to students by not giving them healthy foods that increase their learning ability and make them healthier in general. It is beyond hypocritical of schools to promote and encourage a healthy lifestyle, while feeding it’s students food that makes that impossible to achieve. Unhealthy foods lead to worse behavior in the classroom, acting out, and lower grades. An education is important, but the physical and mental health of the students is more important. Everything in your body is reliant on the food you put in and if you’re not putting in healthy food you won't be able to perform to the best of your ability, especially in school. With that being said, in moderation fast and unhealthy food is ok. When it comes to food having a cheat day or a fast food binge every once in awhile is ok and can boost your happiness and overall mood in the short run. Its when you’re putting garbage into your body everyday that it becomes an unhealthy problem, and that’s why it’s a problem that schools are serving these foods every day. Children are the future of America and school lunches need to change to give kids the ability to learn more and live healthier lives; it’s not fair to them to take away these opportunities by serving them unhealthy foods at lunch.
