They say knowledge without wisdom is foolish and fatal. Modern technology has brought so many advancements that people can today produce pretty much anything, including delicious, decadent food. Without wise eating habits, that same delicious food can, however, be a time-bomb to one's health. Ironically, the more delicious delights mankind are able to produce, the more important healthy eating habits have become. Knowing and loving healthy food from a young age has become crucial in a society that is flooded with tempting, artificial and sugary cuisine that is fast taking its toll on the youth.
This democratic approach is aimed at responsible, informed adults who can make calculated choices and know the pro's and cons of their decision. With kids, it can have disastrous results if they are not well-informed of the consequences of their decisions. Tempting kids during official school hours with unhealthy, sugary junk food is in direct contrast with any schools' obligatory responsibility to teach students about healthy living and diet. In this regard, there is little doubt that the average school meal vending machines encourage unhealthy eating habits.
The concept of free school lunches originated in the early twentieth century around World War 11 when many countries were stricken by poverty and famine. Kids were fed state-subsidized breakfast or lunch at school. These meals consisted of whatever crop was available to eat and each country developed its own guidelines, menus and legislation for these feeding schemes.
During the past decades, these school feeding programs changed according to the latest trends, nutritional values and economics. Many countries could not afford to maintain these programs and/or the quality of the meals decreased to make it more affordable. Today, only a few countries still provide free school meals to all pupils regardless of their financial ability to pay.
Up to 80 percent of snacks consisted of candy, chips or sugar-laden confectioneries. Of the 9,723 total snack slots in vending machines that were surveyed, only 26 slots offered a fruit or vegetable. It was argued that vending machine trends do not only promote unhealthy eating habits, but also undermine all nutrition education that children receive in school or at home.
Studies have shown that most school vending machines stock mostly junk food and sugary beverages that have very little or none nutritional value. For some kids, this junk food is the only meals they have for breakfast and lunch - the two most important meals for growing kids. Since owners of these vending machines do not have to comply with dietary regulations, they can pretty much sell whatever food they want.
The alarming increase in obesity and other diet-related health problems among young children caused an international outcry for healthier school meal programs during the last decade. It is, however, impossible to enforce and regulate such programs on a national or international scale. In poor countries, many feeding schemes fail due to corruption, mismanagement, or lack of funding.
All educational institutions have a responsibility to educate and protect pupils and to lead by example. That education includes the importance of a healthy diet and lifestyle. Therefore all schools have a responsibility and moral obligation to ensure that only healthy, nutritional food are sold on their premises.
This democratic approach is aimed at responsible, informed adults who can make calculated choices and know the pro's and cons of their decision. With kids, it can have disastrous results if they are not well-informed of the consequences of their decisions. Tempting kids during official school hours with unhealthy, sugary junk food is in direct contrast with any schools' obligatory responsibility to teach students about healthy living and diet. In this regard, there is little doubt that the average school meal vending machines encourage unhealthy eating habits.
The concept of free school lunches originated in the early twentieth century around World War 11 when many countries were stricken by poverty and famine. Kids were fed state-subsidized breakfast or lunch at school. These meals consisted of whatever crop was available to eat and each country developed its own guidelines, menus and legislation for these feeding schemes.
During the past decades, these school feeding programs changed according to the latest trends, nutritional values and economics. Many countries could not afford to maintain these programs and/or the quality of the meals decreased to make it more affordable. Today, only a few countries still provide free school meals to all pupils regardless of their financial ability to pay.
Up to 80 percent of snacks consisted of candy, chips or sugar-laden confectioneries. Of the 9,723 total snack slots in vending machines that were surveyed, only 26 slots offered a fruit or vegetable. It was argued that vending machine trends do not only promote unhealthy eating habits, but also undermine all nutrition education that children receive in school or at home.
Studies have shown that most school vending machines stock mostly junk food and sugary beverages that have very little or none nutritional value. For some kids, this junk food is the only meals they have for breakfast and lunch - the two most important meals for growing kids. Since owners of these vending machines do not have to comply with dietary regulations, they can pretty much sell whatever food they want.
The alarming increase in obesity and other diet-related health problems among young children caused an international outcry for healthier school meal programs during the last decade. It is, however, impossible to enforce and regulate such programs on a national or international scale. In poor countries, many feeding schemes fail due to corruption, mismanagement, or lack of funding.
All educational institutions have a responsibility to educate and protect pupils and to lead by example. That education includes the importance of a healthy diet and lifestyle. Therefore all schools have a responsibility and moral obligation to ensure that only healthy, nutritional food are sold on their premises.
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