Lunch Lady Blues

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Recommended: The hazards of junk food

In recent years America’s health and economy have become a hot topic of debate in legislative offices. Recent legislation concerning the food served in schools nationwide has undergone changes that have cause widespread debate on the role of the federal government in students’ lives, the possible effects on the industry that supply food to schools and the effects on the schools and students themselves. In some cases the debated changes are welcomed with open arms and are merely formalities, in others the changes are reasons to lobby congress to convince them that pizza is counted as a vegetable because it has tomato paste. In the long run some of the changes will make a positive impact on the health of children, and businesses will find ways to adapt to the new regulations and succeed.

As of 2008 an estimated 17% of children between the ages of 2-19, are considered obese. This statistic has tripled over a 30 year period beginning in the mid 1970s (CDC). The greatest concern for children in this category is the risk for coronary heart disease from the consumption of trans fats (CDC). The life long affects of obesity are one main reason the federal government has recently adopted changes to the National School Lunch Program nutritional requirements.

Trans fats were created by scientist to replace the saturated fats found in some processed foods; they are commonly used to prolong the shelf life of foods (CDC). The fact is the consumption of artificial trans fats affects cholesterol levels negatively and increases the risk for heart disease (CDC). The National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program serve a combined 40 million or more meals per day to students nationwide (CDC).

The risk of heart disease is not the only...

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.../FR-2012-01-26/pdf/2012-1010.pdf>

Salk Institute. "How Obesity Increases The Risk For Diabetes." ScienceDaily, 21 Jun. 2009. Web. 28 Mar. 2012.

“Schwan’s Food Service, Inc. Redefines School Pizza, Offering Healthier Choices for Children in More Than 72,000 U.S. Schools” Businesswire. businesswire.com. 7 Mar. 2011. Web. 29 Feb. 2012.

Simon, G.E., et al. “Obesity, depression, and health services costs among middle-aged women.” nih.gov, 28 Jun. 2011. Web. 28 Mar. 2012.

United States Department of Agriculture. “Notices”. usda.gov, 25 Mar. 2011. Web. 3 Apr. 2012. < http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-03-23/pdf/2012-7036.pdf>

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