The new Federal Government guidelines are now enforcing healthy eating amongst America’s youth. Unfortunately, too many kids are rebelling and have educators wringing their hands. A recent YouTube video covers the story, showing the drama behind the scenes while highlighting the changes at the forefront (http://youtu.be/olZVsiH3qrY).
The major problem is the waste of food, which is now occurring more often than ever due to the change. The real tragedy is the lack of discipline and appreciation for food that these kids obviously do not have. With so many hungry children who look forward to (at the very least) their one meal of the day (via school lunch) it’s an outright atrocity and shame to see the kids respond to the new stepped up efforts.
So who’s to blame, the parents or the kids? Personally, and I speak as a parent, education starts in the home including our children’s eating habits. Fundamental nutrition and how food is valued begins with the parent(s), so in part, the finger points back to the parent.
When our kids eat outside the home, they look for an extension of what is served at home. If they’re not used to eating healthy balanced nutritional meals, then when they are out in public they won’t be attracted to nutritional choices. If their meal at home consists of fast food, junk food and/or highly preserved food, then so will their diet become wherever they go.
The evidence of their wastefulness should tell American’s we have a deeper problem than just nutrition in our society; we have a generation of kids who view food as an “entitlement” rather than a hard-earned necessity. Whether it’s the parents or taxpayers money paying for the food, kids should be taught to “value” what doesn’t come free.
I also blame the kids. Poor behavior and a lack of appreciation both represent a “spoiled brat” mentality. Can we only imagine how the kids, who didn’t have breakfast and probably won’t have dinner, feel when they watch their peers “throw away” their meals? Those two extremes are not so unusual in America anymore, are they?
The greater question is, “How do we change our culture in the public school system in order to facilitate increased awareness and appreciation for healthy nutritional food?” The following are a few ideas that might help:
*Focus groups – Nothing works better than empowering people to change versus telling someone they “must” change. A much more effective way to help anyone to change is to engage them in the process, through allowing them to contribute to the choices about which healthy foods they would most likely eat.
*Feedback – According to the video, a good majority of the food is being thrown away. This should be a “red flag” telling us that something is not working. Personally, I wouldn’t want to eat packaged fruit or bland salads. But what I would eat is fresh fruit, and more well rounded salads that include products like fresh fruit, almonds, a sprinkle of low fat cheese, with maybe some kidney beans or chopped grilled chicken to top it off. Treat the students like “customers” and ask for their opinion instead of just recipients of an idea. One forces; the other engages. Anytime we “engage” someone in the process we succeed at accomplishing the goal.
*Repurpose – Unopened packaged food should be set aside and given away at the end of the day. There are too many hungry kids who go home hungry to waste the food that wasn’t opened. If we allow the kids to “donate” back the food, then at least we won’t be wasting it.
*Create a cultural movement - Remove all unhealthy snacks from snack and soda machines in the school, including teachers and administrators lounges. Enforce the policy within the entire school, not just with the students. Adults lead by example and kids are watching to see what choices they make.
Change starts in the place where we spend most of our time (home). If we want to stop childhood obesity and the endless list of diseases that come with it, then we (parents) must be our kid’s greatest influence.
Quick Tips for Wellness: If we want to see our kids become healthy adults then we (the adults) must lead by example.
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