More Healthy Food Options in Schools

We have all been told at one point in our lives that we should eat healthy, I myself have been told this more times than I can count. Recently there has been a focus on providing healthy food options for kids at school. Like every other new idea it has its supporters and detractors, in this case arguing things such as the benefits of nutrition, kid’s willingness to eat those healthy foods, and freedom of choice. Should more healthy food options be offered in schools? Yes they should, and here’s why.

First there are recent studies that have shown that offering healthy foods in schools can increase the academic performance of kids in the classroom. A Reuter’s article entitled “Healthy diet means better schools performance” points to a study that was conducted in 2008 by the University of Alberta at Edmonton on a group of 4589 fifth graders in Nova Scotia. The study found that “Students who ate an adequate amount of fruit, vegetables, protein, fiber and other components of a healthy diet were significantly less likely to fail a literacy test”(Nicholson 3). Another article in the Examiner entitled “Healthy school lunch impacts children’s learning ability” points to two additional studies that have come to similar conclusions. A 2008 study that took place over two years and included 2000 students, conducted by Dr. Arthur Agatston of the University of Miami Miller School of medicine found that “adding more nutritional food to the school lunch menu had boosted academic performance with math scores seeing the highest improvement.”(Nicholson 2.). The other study discussed in the article was conducted by Jonathon James, a research student at the University of Essex in 2009 and found that students who consumed healthy lunches attended class...

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...ption of junk food and healthy food the student chooses the junk food it doesn’t hurt to provide the healthy option.

So for what reasons should more healthy food options be provided in schools? Well to start with there is significant evidence showing that it can increase our children’s test scores. Children are the future of our nation and we want our children to succeed, education is a key part of this. There is of course also the fact that healthy food translates to better physical health, who among us do not want our children to lead long and healthy lives? The concern about freedom of choice is a valid one, however is unwarranted as we are talking about offering healthy food as an option. We have also found that when offering healthy food options children will eat them, if students will eat them and it can benefit them our schools should include these options.