Dixon, Ron. “New Guidelines Planned on School Vending Machines”. Washington. The New York Times. 2012. Web.
Mr. Ron Dixon is a news reporter working for The New York Times and is based in Washington DC. In article which also appeared on the print edition of the newspaper, the reporter highlights one of the major steps that government has taken to reduce childhood obesity in school going children. He reports that the government has come up with a raft of new measures to ensure that vending machines are stocked with healthy foods.
This, he asserts, is a follow up measure to the previous controversial one that had banned unhealthy foods in the school cafeteria. Like its predecessor, this new policy is already being challenged by many, especially representatives of the food and beverage industries and schools. While the industrialists believe they manufacture healthy foods, the schools are concerned that this will cut their source of funds from various school fundraisers while rely on selling these so called unhealthy foods. However, this policy has also been backed by many who believe its time is due as Dixon reports in his well researched and useful article which intended to the general public.
Schanzenbach, Diane. Do School Lunches Contribute to Childhood Obesity? Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2005. Web.
Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach was a student at the University of Chicago when this insightful work of hers was published. This well researched work was presented after a series of research studies into the eating trends among those students whose families live below and above 185% poverty line. She asserts that the students who depended on government ratios during lunch hours consumed 40 to 120 more of calories than their brown baggers counterparts. When translated to susceptibility to being overweight, such students had 2 to 4% more chances of being overweight or obese. This article, which was intended for the public audience, policy makers and schools’ administrators, provide a priceless insight and possible explanation to high cases of obesity among the poor children.
Story, Mary, Kaphingst, Karen and French, Simone. “The Role of Schools in Obesity Prevention”. The Future of Children, 2006, 16 (1): 109 – 142. Web.
Written by health professionals who are also academicians, this article aims at looking at the role the schools can play in curbing obesity since children spend most of their time in school. They assert that despite all these, the schools have a limited role to play since the food and programs that run the school are given by the government. Moreover, bad eating habit which is a major cause of obesity among children is difficult to curb since the school has limited funds to provide proper foods to the children. However, the school can organize fitness programs for the children, giving them referrals especially the vulnerable group: the poor children. This article addresses the federal government, school administrators and the general public.
“HOW TO FIX SCHOOL LUNCH”. The Daily Beast. 2008. Web.
This article, though author not mentioned, paints a clear picture of the rot that exists within the cafeteria of schools in the United States and even abroad. The writer asserts it is the poor food prepared in the school cafeterias that has forced the students to eat fast foods which are unhealthy. As a matter of fact, most of schools have poor cafeterias with untrained staff and poor equipment for workers. This is why they cannot prepare quality meals and offer better services to the students. The meals at the cafeterias are also expensive as foods such as breaded meat patties, overcooked vegetables and French fries go for $1 each.
However, there is a ray of hope as many celebrated chefs, lunch ladies and even politicians have take the bold step to revolutionize the schools’ kitchen; to ensure that they prepare healthy and good foods that can be eaten by the students. Nevertheless, despite the fact that the school kitchen will be revolutionized, the teachers should take a mandate to teach the students healthy foods that they should consume.
This will make them aware of what to buy during lunch since it is no longer the work of the parents to monitor the foods their children take in school; students nowadays do not carry packed lunch to school like they used to do before. However, intended for the policy makers and school administrators to a great extend, this article recognizes that it will be a challenge but that which can be achieved over time just like other states like New York, Texas and California have done.
Grover, Jan. Food (Current Controversies). San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press, 2007.
Written by the late photographer Jan Grover, this book is intended mainly for general public from ages 12 years and above. It outlines and attempts to define what healthy eating and healthy food is. Moreover, the author gives a concise outlining the numerous controversies that has surrounded healthy eating habits and healthy food. He covers topics that discuss safety of food supply, whether obesity among many youths is caused by fast foods and snacks and whether the new trend of consuming organic food is healthy. This article serves a very important role in encouraging healthy eating habits and thus, keeping obesity at bay. Jan encourages the readers that the best diet is mainly a product of having common sense. He also believes that government regulations on food do not keep food safer but self-regulation by food industries does keep food safer.
Works Cited
Dixon, Ron. “New Guidelines Planned on School Vending Machines”. Washington. The New York Times. 2012. Web.
Grover, Jan. Food (Current Controversies). San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press, 2007.
“HOW TO FIX SCHOOL LUNCH”. The Daily Beast. 2008. Web.
Schanzenbach, Diane. Do School Lunches Contribute to Childhood Obesity? Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2005. Web.
Story, Mary, Kaphingst, Karen and French, Simone. “The Role of Schools in Obesity Prevention”. The Future of Children, 2006, 16 (1): 109 – 142. Web.