Junk foods in Schools: Yay or Nay?! One might think that junk food is really horrible for children. But in all reality, majority of the time junk foods are good. Many foods get categorized into the “ junk “ section but really some foods could be quite healthier than others. For example popcorn (which is served in most vending machines) “movie snack is full of fiber and has high levels of polyphenols, antioxidants that can protect against heart disease and certain cancers.” (Ahlberg 8) The big question is that, should junk foods should be banned from schools. Most schools have vending machines everywhere, in cafeterias, hallways, even in locker rooms. However school officials decide on what goes in these machines. Most children at school only eat the food from the vending machines because schools food isn't always a five star meal. Junk foods should be allowed in schools.“ Exercise would be encouraged by parents who might join in and lose a few pounds themselves.” (Carson-Dewitt and Jacobs 4) This would be a major reason because parents should either influence their children to lose weight or to slow down on their eating. Instead, many people blame the school’s vending machines for their child’s increased weight gain. “Young people can suffer …show more content…
These big candy filled machines are like the money makers for the school.“ Schools are left scrambling for additional money.” (Sprague and Lee 12) Schools are basically broke if the government decides to prohibit vending machines. It will be hard for schools to get the money they need, because there main source of income is no longer in service. “But cutting taxes has become a virtual crusade in many places.. “extras”--such as sports or after-school programs. “ (Sprague and Lee 12) This quote states that If the school has to cut taxes due to low income coming in, then that would mean that other school activities would have to be cut as well, as in sports and
Unhealthy foods are what make the money for schools and that is why they serve them for students. (Schlafy) Schools feel like they need the extra money in the budget, even though it is at the student’s expense. Data shows that nearly 60% of all middle schools in the US serve soda from vending machines. (Schlafy) Soda is very high in sugar and is not at all good for children, but it is still sold in school vending machines. The ways food in schools is now are way too high in fats and sugars. This is not good for the children and very bad in the long run. Elementary schoolchildren have an estimated $15 billion of their own money that they can use to buy whatever they want in schools, and parents have almost another $160 billion to give students for food money. (Schlafy) Big businesses see this as a big source of profit and therefore encourage children to buy their products, and want them to be offered in school because of th4e likelihood of children buying the business’s product. All in all, obesity in the US is greatly influenced by the foods offered in schools
Ballaro, Beverly and Ann Griswold. "Junk Food In Schools: An Overview." Points Of View: Junk
In conclusion, school stores and vending machines shouldn’t be banned. Schools can make the most money by having those. Many schools don’t have any other options that would raise more money, and depend on school stores to run school functions. Students have more options if they have a school store. Schools stores and vending machines shouldn’t be banned. Call the FDA and other government organizations that are concerned about health, and spread the word.
Many schools are voting to remove vending machines, and leave the kids hungry or thirsty between classes and after school. Removing the machines is only One fix to the problem. We need to look at other possible solution that could keep the machines in school, and keep snacks available to hungry children. they could very easily stock these machines with healthier options. There are many reasons why taking these machines out of schools would be a mistake.
How many obese children have you seen today? Obesity is one of the largest health problems Americans are currently facing. It can lead to many baleful complications, including heart disease, diabetes, sleep apnea, cancer, mobility issues, high blood pressure, bullying, and lack of self-esteem. According to the CDC, about 17% of children and adolescents aged 2-19 are obese, and 30% are overweight. In adults, around 70% are overweight and 30% are obese. Nevertheless, our nation’s public schools are continuously promoting virulent foods through its lunch programs and on-campus advertisements. Although I understand that unhealthy food is cheaper and tastier, we must remember that those foods are causing our nation’s children to become obese. Factors such as cheap unhealthy foods in school lunches, junk food ads in schools, and teachers eating pernicious foods in class are causing more and more children to make the easy choice, the unhealthy choice. Obesity is a growing epidemic in the U.S, one that we need to promptly eradicate.
Schools have policies on what food is being served in their cafeterias or in the vending machines. Cafeterias sell greasy foods such as curly fries, poutine, pizza and multitudes of cookies and other baked goods. The cafeteria food that is purchased is significantly cheaper in large frozen, junk food quantities which will keep the prices of foods down for the school. Nutritious food has not always been thought out for the children who are purchasing the food from the cafeteria or vending machine. The boards tend to care more about the costs saved on junk foods rather then the rise of obesity within the child generation. Cafeterias with greasy foods and vending machines that are stocked with chips, chocolate and pop continuously allow childhood obesity to be on the rise. Schools have vending machines that sell junk food which contribute to the evolution of childhood
Some people may question why schools are only banning soft drinks and not junk food as well. Authors Beverly Ann and Ballaro Griswold address the concern recanting that schools do not want to only ban junk foods, because they amount to tens of thousands of dollars to schools profit annually. It is ridiculous to think that only banning soda will change anything overall. Even the artificial coloring and preservatives used in junk foods attribute hyperactivity in students(pars. 2-4). When I was in school, the lunches consisted of pizza sticks, biscuits and gravy, every kind of chip, and every Little Debbie snack imaginable. As it was back then, children can buy unlimited snacks and drinks. Some kids used to eat two or three pizza sticks, a bag of chips, “meatloaf”, all washed down with a Dr. Pepper. Making a little dent in the issue by banning sodas is chipping away at the bigger problem of things, sure, but it is not enough to make a remarkable difference. If students have such poor eating habits, they most likely stem from the home they grow up
In “Hooked on ‘Caramel-Colored Gold,” Melody Nelson claims “Despite the increased awareness of the benefits of good nutrition, we are a nation hooked on junk food, and many school administrators are taking advantage of the situation ” (par. 3). Nelson propose a ban on vending machines in schools because junk food is unhealthy for children, and they risk future health problems. I agree with Melody Nelson and believe that vending machines should be banned from school campuses, because they sell unhealthy food, they cause more money to schools for hiring extra custodians, and they are affecting children learning abilities.
Throughout the United States, concern of rising health issues is a popular topic. Over a progression of many years, American fast food chains and junk food companies have risen as a common means for food replacing homemade family meals. This quick and easy habit of buying cheaply made and sold foods that lack real nutritional value has been reason for increasing health issues. This habit is seen in children just the same as adults. Children eat the quickest meal with the most sugar and fat (among other unhealthy ingredients). This habit needs to be broken to take better care of the children today. Children are eating snack cakes and other junk foods at school instead of the breakfast/lunch that is offered causing bad habits and a poor diet. The children of America are suffering from the effects of malnutrition and yet, society does not help them to better understand or give higher grade options for them to choose from. Therefore, junk food should not be allowed in schools as it imposes health risks on children, lacks requirements for the nutrition contained in them, and without offering them, children would learn many morals/lessons.
cafeterias, and there should be a limitation on use of vending machines to after school
Thompson, Olivia M., et al., "School Vending Machine Purchasing Behavior: Results From The 2005 Youthstyles Survey." Journal Of School Health 80.5 (2010): 225-32. EBSCO MegaFILE. Web. 5 Apr. 2014.
Also, since over 12 million children are in child care centers every day, there are not any regulations against feeding children unhealthy food during the day (Salisbury). This impacts the growth and development of children at a young age. If the food is not regulated, than it is very possible that they could be prone to involuntary obesity. According to the Journal of School Health, students tend to gravitate toward less healthy foods and bigger portion sizes. Unfortunately, this leads us to another cause of obesity, which the increased portion of the foods and drinks that are in vending machines. This means that they are eating a lot of extra
In my opinion, I would say no to the banning of candy and soda. We should be eligible to eat what we want and the government shouldn't interfere with our decisions. It makes it seem that we won’t learn anything if they decide to ban it, rather than banning soda and candy, they should encourage students to make the right decisions for themselves. Students should also be encouraged to be taught more about what it may do for you instead of just banning it, because they might lack information about what it may cause or in what way they are unhealthy.
The vending machines which have mostly sodas and chips are also convenient for kids, but they are consuming tremendous amount of sugars that are so unhealthy for their diets. In high schools, their hormones are changing and when they eat or drink foods that are not healthy, their hormones respond to those, by making them hyper, unable to learn and to comprehend subjects better in schools.
Ahren Lamb 2nd hour, Brothers Why Junk Food Should be Allowed in Schools Just because schools don’t allow junk food, to be sold does that mean they will solve the problems of obesity? Candy machines are highly regulated if allowed at all in schools because some people believe it leads to obesity and other health problems. Although there are healthier options, vending machines should be allowed in schools because they raise money for schools, the machines provide snacks for students, and also reduce the urge to bring outside food in. Vending machines should be allowed in schools because they raise money for them. According to Livestrong.com and Healthy You Vending, Academies make the money through students buying the snacks, also through renting out space on the machines, large companies sponsoring the machines.