What Is Child Obesity Persuasive Essay

Child Obesity

Child obesity is a big concern in the United States. As a country we can agree that child obesity is increasing and somehow getting out of control. Who is to blame for this increase parents, schools, the media, fast food restaurants? Regardless of who is to blame we need to focus on the problem and in ways to help decrease childhood obesity. It is cheaper to buy foods that are not very nutritious because they are cheaper than healthier foods, plus they taste better. Children will choose the food that they know taste better but if we teach them to eat right we will make them choose the food that is better for their health.

Most schools around the country don’t offer their students healthy food options, instead we see foods that are high in fat, salt, and that lack nutrients.

If the school has vending machines, they are more likely to be filled with non-nutritious foods like chips, cookies, and candy.

Some schools even sell junk food to students like popcorn, chocolates and chips when in reality they should be offering fruits, granola bars and other snacks filled with nutrients. Students struggle to find fast food items they enjoy while remaining within the 600 calorie-per-meal guidelines. (Zuercher) A way that we can help decrease the growth of child obesity is by offering children healthier lunch options in schools. What schools are doing to try and decrease child obesity is changing the schools lunch menus. They are offering healthier food options and are serving more fruits and vegetables. Early childhood nutrition is very important especially at a child’s early stages of life. As we learned in class good eating habits and physical activity are very important. Eating healthy would help lower the chances of children developing diabetes at a very

young age. (Henrie) We also learned that it is more important for children to have a balanced nutritious meals than adults because children’s bodies and minds keep growing and developing. (Henrie) If a child doesn’t have proper nutrition it can result in serious physical, mental, and behavioral problems later on in life. By helping children pick healthier foods we are helping them improve their learning and alertness in school. By offering healthier lunch options we would help make children pick healthier food choices in school. If a child has healthier food options at school it is more possible that a child would try to eat a little healthier.
What can teachers and parents do to help children choose healthier food options? First parents can start by setting an example for their own children at home. Parents should teach their children that eating healthier is good for them and that eating healthier will make them stronger. I think that parents have an impact on a child’s food options. Parents can provide healthier meals at home and show children what the right serving portions looks like. For example if a child doesn’t eat healthy foods at home they are less likely to want healthier foods at school. In the other hand if a child has healthier food options at home they are more likely to pick healthier food at school. Also they can cut off unhealthy foods from their diets and instead add healthy foods. For example for dessert instead of ice cream they can give them some fruit. Teachers also have an impact on a child nutritional life. If teachers talked with their students and showed them that eating healthier is better than eating unhealthy they could help students make better food choices. Teachers can also help students identify what good nutrition looks like by using visual aids. Sugar math and lessons in critical thinking and media literacy are very effective in helping students see the “dark side” of food consumption. (Zuercher) Teachers can also come up with fun games to help children learn what types of foods are good for our bodies and which are bad. By encouraging their students to be healthier teachers are helping them live a healthier and stronger life.