15.+School+Nutrition+Programs

Sarah, Meagan

Nutrition in Schools

The art of teaching has been around for ages. Molding young naive minds into intelligent young adults is the outcome most educators hope for. To sculpt a young mind a child must be willing to learn, he or she must be conscious and awake to do so. To be at an admirable state of learning you must have a satisfied stomach. I am sure we have all heard the saying “the most important meal of the day is breakfast.” This is true do to the fact we need fuel to keep our brains functioning. Lunch is also something that is much needed since breakfast can only fuel the brain for so many hours. This is where school lunch programs come in.

Table of Contents: 1) Background and History information
 * When programs came about
 * Why programs were started

2)Lunch Refrom
 * School Gardens

3)National School Lunch Program
 * Statistics
 * Studies
 * Family Statistics

In 1790 Benjamin Thompson, American born physicist and statesman, combined teaching and feeding the hungry for vagrant children, began in Munich Germany.

though meals were scarce and didn’t contain meat because of its high cost, his development of public mass feeding helped pave the way for needed programs (Gunderson). New York City, 1853, the Children’s Aid Society created the first free lunch program. During the Great War lunches were served at many of Americas larger city schools. Menus were developed to ensure each student consumed the number of calories (energy) calculated to maximize his or her learning potential (Oliver). Education can be wasted if a child is learning on a starved or poorly digested stomach. Soon congress realized the importance of feeding young minds and in 1946 America adopted the National Lunch Act. In the legislations words: “it is herby declared the policy of Congress, as a measure of national security, to safeguard the health and well-being of the Nation’s children and to encourage the consumption of nutritious agricultural commodities and other food, by assisting the states, through grants In aid and other means, in providing an adequate supply of foods and other facilities for the establishment, maintenance, operation, and expansion of nonprofit school lunch programs.” The primary stated purpose of the act was to promote adequate nutrition among school-aged children, but a secondary purpose was to encourage domestic consumption of American agricultural products. The act did this by allocating surplus food and grants-in-aid to states so local school districts could provide lunches for children who might otherwise go hungry(Russel). Over the years this act has been amended many times changing the budget, 2010 the National School Lunch program budget totaled out to be 9.7 billion, though because of increased populations pres. Obama is trying to increase the budget in 2012 (Food Research Action Center). Increased population is the reason why were having trouble with the national budget. 1980 s started a new revolution in school lunch cafeterias. Since populations are expanding and budgets can’t keep up many schools turn to l ocal vendors. The one’s that came to the rescue were soft drink companies and pizza huts. Due to rising obesity rates many parents and educators became worried and wanted to put an end to fast food type offerings and instead stick to nutritional guidelines (Gunderson). As many know, nutrition can come at a somewhat expensive cost; Though Liberty Hyde Bailey had an inexpensive, educational, and nutritious approach. “Give the children an opportunity to make a garden. Let them grow what they will. It matters less that they grow good plants than that they try for themselves(Gunderson).”

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;"> The Nutrition Services Division leads the //Garden in Every School// program and collaborates with individuals and organizations that support school gardens, including public and private agricultural agencies, waste management agencies, health agencies, and others. With 3000 school gardens, the //Garden in Every School// program reaches throughout the state to enhance education and health. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">The mission of the garden program has expanded to include links with surrounding agricultural areas through school cafeterias, while maintaining the natural connection with cooking in the classroom and school recycling. This concept of linking schools with local farmers to provide fresher, tastier, healthier school meals is known as [|Farm to School] and is considered a part of a healthy school environment. When fresh, farm-direct, seasonal food is included in school lunch programs, both children and farmers benefit. Combining healthy school lunch choices with nutrition education, farm visits, school gardens, and cooking projects in the classroom gives children a better opportunity to develop healthy eating habits that last a lifetime (California Department of Education). Creating programs like these will benefit school lunch rooms in so many ways. This is a positive reform program that should be conducted at every school. According to the National Lunch Act, this program fits every criteria.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) are great assets to many families who are struggling financially but may be doing more harm than good when it comes to the health of the children. Due to economic issues, schools have had to change the foods that are being served to students. These changes have been made in order for schools to be able to afford foods that are lower in price, but unfortunately also lower in nutritional value. Schools are trying to purchase as much food as they can in order to feed the many students that are enrolled in the NSLP each year and that number is growing. This causes many financial setbacks within the schools and the food they are able to afford. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">The NSLP, first authorized by the National School Lunch Act (NSLA) of 1946, operates in more than 96,000 public and non-profit schools and provides low-cost or free lunches to more than 31 million children daily (Bhatia, 2011). The NSLP provides many free and reduced-cost lunches to students as well as those who pay full price. Approximately 75% of students at the middle school level, in most states, can receive free or at least reduced-cost lunches. This is an unbelievable amount of students and families who are unable to make ends meet and relay on the NSLP to make sure their children get the nutrition that they need but unfortunately, their nutritional needs are not always met by the food provided and the costs the schools can afford. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">A study was conducted to test just how nutritious school lunches really are. Data was collected from 3 public schools, located in 1 county outside a metropolitan area. This study was done during a 4-week period at each lunchtime (Snelling, 2007). These foods were color coded into 3 unique categories, green, yellow, and red. Green foods are low-calorie foods and are foods that should be eaten at every meal. These foods are generally rich in vitamins and minerals, high in fiber, and low in fat. Examples of this includes most fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat or fat-free dairy products. Yellow foods are moderate in calories, and include most of the sources of protein, some grains, some dairy products, and some fruits and vegetables. They are rich in nutrients for the calories they provide and are generally lower in fat. It is important to eat yellow foods in moderation. Red foods provide little nutritional value for the calories they contain. This includes fried foods, high-fat foods, and those that are low-fat but high-sugar foods. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">The food served for the NSLP was classified into 3 color categories and included 3 hot entrees, 2 cold sandwiches, a large chef salad, a low-fat yogurt, 2 fruit choices, 2 vegetable choices, and a milk (low-fat or skim). This can make it difficult to meet the daily nutritional needs of students and children can often be picky eaters. This study showed how each food measured up in a 4-week period. The food being served was 33% classified as green foods, 44% classified as yellow foods, and the remaining 23% were red foods. This proves that the food that is being served to children does not always provide the most healthful options. Schools need to be able to provide the most “green foods” possible. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">The money that schools are allocated to spend on lunch also determines they type of food that will be served. Under the Federal Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, local school meal reimbursement were required by the first day of school in 2006 to implement school wellness policies; these policies set goals for nutrition education guidelines for all food sold on campus with the objective of reducing childhood obesity (Wharton, 2008). A few studies suggests the school food environment might be a source of excess calories (Cullen, 2009). Advocates for the nutritional value of the NSLP argue that it is wrong to sell children unhealthy foods in order to subsidize their education. Schools are only allowed a certain amount of money each year to make ends meet. Unfortunately, nutrition is not a main priority in schools, but should become one. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">There are many factors that affect whether a child is enrolled in the school lunch program that may or may not be all about money. This can include whether or not the family is a single parent house hold. Gender has been playing a part as well, male students are 5% more likely to participate in the NSLP (Donka M, 2009). Researchers are unsure why this is but has been a continuing trend over the past few years. Minority students are also more likely to eat food from the NSLP. Elementary school students participate in the NSLP more often than high school students, even though about the same amount are eligible. There is a stigma associated with the NSLP, that only “poor” students eat that food. 18.5% of high school students surveyed said they would eat the school lunch more often if their friends did (Donka M, 2009). This is a stereotype that makes it difficult for older students who qualify for free or reduced-cost lunch to get the nutritious food they may not otherwise be able to eat. Nutrition for students has been in much debate over the years and one can only hope for improvement.

=<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Works Cited = <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Bhatia, R. (2011). Competitive Foods, Discrimination, and Participation in the National School Lunch Program. //American Journal of Public Health//, 5.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">California Department of Education. __A Healthy Nutrition Environment: Linking Education, Activity, and Food through School Gardens.__ 13 April 2011. 3 November 2011 [].

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Cullen, K. W. (2009). The Impact of School Socioeconomic Stataus on Student Lunch Consumption after Implementation of the Texas Public School Nutrition Policy. //Journal of School Health//, 6.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Donka M, M. (2009). Participation in the National School Lunch Program: Importance of School-Level and Neighborhood Contexual Factors. //Journal of School Health//, 9. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">__Food Research Action Center.__ 2010. 3 November 2011 [].

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Gunderson, Gordon W. __The Food Museum Online Exibit.__ 26 11 2011. 3 November 2011 [].

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Oliver, Lynn. __Food Timeline:FAQs School Lunches.__ 29 August 2011. 3 November 2011 [].

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Russel, Richard B. __Major Acts of Congress.__ 1946. 3 November 2011 <http://www.enotes.com/major-acts-congress/richard-b-russell-national-school-lunch-act>.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Snelling, A. M. (2007). The National School Lunch and Competitive Food Offerings and Purchasing Behaviors of High School Students. //American School Health Association//, 4.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Wharton, C. M. (2008). Changing Nutrition Standards in Schools: The Emerging Impact of School Revenue. //Journal of School Health//, 5.

= =