Improving Quality and Nutrition in School Lunches

“Would you eat it?” A simple question expressing so much. As most know, and have probably experienced, school lunches are not as high quality as they could be. Though the federal government emplaced many rules and regulations regarding school lunches, the food served, in reality, isn’t healthy, visually appealing or flavorful and should be improved. As a student, it is quite disappointing to see there are no fresh fruit/veggies or good quality food available. “Schools should offer more healthy options, fresh food and less junk food” (Blais). What is being served is impalpable. It all comes back down to the same four word question, “Would you eat it?”.
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Everyone knows to begin their day with a

healthy meal yet don’t understand the importance of lunch. Lunch is every bit as important. Statistics show that students who eat unhealthy lunches are more likely to score lower on tests, and struggle with school work. The properly balanced lunch meal plays a major role in having a healthy lifestyle. After a long morning of head-pounding classes, every student deserves a delicious, healthy lunch that fills the belly, giving a boost of energy to continue the day to the best of their ability and improving the overall salubriousness in the school environment. Other than mental health amelioration, greater quality school lunches would greatly influence childhood obesity. It’s all over the news, in the top magazines and even on TV. With one out of three kids and teens suffering from this quickly climaxing disease there are many efforts being done to decrease this epidemic. Obesity is caused from unhealthy diets and little to no exercise. This is basically when the total calories consumed overpower the total calories used over a long period of time. With healthier school lunches, children will easily be able to choose against the greasy junk food. After all, it is hard for kids to make healthy choices when the “nutritious” lunches do not meet the right standards. Jamie Oliver, an English chef, began a “Food Revolution” by first traveling to public schools in West Virginia. His mission was to improve the quality as well as haleness of the food served and has proved it is possible to turn around school cafeterias. With those schools still implementing the changes made, Jamie plans on continuing to revolutionize the image behind school lunches in America. All public schools should use the changes made to the West Virginia schools as a guide to how they themselves can improve their lunch quality and innovative ways to do so.
Yes, fresh ingredients, fruit, veggies, and other higher quality food will be more expensive and it is realized that money doesn’t grow on trees, yet an effort must be made. Unless America wants to become, if not already, a country of incapable obese citizens, it needs to invest in its future generations. Children are the future and all decisions need to be made with them in mind.“Now is the perfect time to make a powerful change- your willingness is at an all-time high”(Bernstein). Make a change for the future generations of Steve Jobs and Albert Einsteins lurking in the shadows.