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.
One of the biggest culprits of this modern day phenomenon can be found in the so-called school kiosk. Time is money and many parents prefer to give their kids pocket money or a daily food allowance to buy food at the school instead of packing lunch boxes. That would have been no problem IF they bought fruit, fruit juices and healthy meals or snacks. Unfortunately, the content of most school meal vending machines causes obesity and poor health as it mostly contains unhealthy snacks, sweets and sweetened cool drinks with little or no nutritional value.
Much has been said and written during the past decade about the alarming increase in obesity and other diet-related conditions among young children. There are many contributing factors, such as the electronic era of TV and TV-games and crime that keep kids indoors, but over-eating and indulging in junk food remain the biggest culprit.
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.
Very few countries - only Finland, Sweden and Estonia - can afford to offer free meals at all their schools. In many countries, similar feeding schemes failed due to poverty, corruption or bad management. It remains the primarily duty and responsibility of parents to ensure that their kids develop healthy eating habits. However, educational institutions and governments also have a responsibility to ensure that whatever food are offered at schools, are nutritional and beneficiary, not harmful, to the kids they are intended for.
One of the biggest culprits of this modern day phenomenon can be found in the so-called school kiosk. Time is money and many parents prefer to give their kids pocket money or a daily food allowance to buy food at the school instead of packing lunch boxes. That would have been no problem IF they bought fruit, fruit juices and healthy meals or snacks. Unfortunately, the content of most school meal vending machines causes obesity and poor health as it mostly contains unhealthy snacks, sweets and sweetened cool drinks with little or no nutritional value.
Much has been said and written during the past decade about the alarming increase in obesity and other diet-related conditions among young children. There are many contributing factors, such as the electronic era of TV and TV-games and crime that keep kids indoors, but over-eating and indulging in junk food remain the biggest culprit.
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.
Very few countries - only Finland, Sweden and Estonia - can afford to offer free meals at all their schools. In many countries, similar feeding schemes failed due to poverty, corruption or bad management. It remains the primarily duty and responsibility of parents to ensure that their kids develop healthy eating habits. However, educational institutions and governments also have a responsibility to ensure that whatever food are offered at schools, are nutritional and beneficiary, not harmful, to the kids they are intended for.
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