onic disease through nutritious eating
and physical activity. The new guidelines encourage Americans
over two years of age to eat a variety of nutrient-dense foods,
such as: fruits, vegetables, fat-free or low-fat milk and milk
products, lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, nuts, and
whole grains. The guidelines also recommend a diet low in
saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium) and added
These guidelines must be followed in order to maintain a healthy weight.
All of these different recommendations for healthy foods create a balanced
diet, in which adolescents get the proper amount of nutrients in order to
remain healthy. Schools however, often do not meet these guidelines,
causing students to be exposed to bad eating habits.
In today's time, schools often do not serve foods that meet our
nutritional needs. Schools are depriving the children of the nutrients they
need because, according to Kristen Hinman, "...less than 20 percent of
schools cook lunch from scratch. Eighty percent of schools exceed the fat
allowance per meal. The average high school lunch has 1,600 milligrams of
sodium-- 100 milligrams more than the daily amount deemed within healthy
limits for children" (qtd. in "The School Lunch Wars"). The extra fat in
the meals, adds extra poor nutrients to the children's diets that are not
needed. Before children are even out of school, they have already started
eating badly, which only contributes to the epidemic of childhood obesity.
Not only are school cafeterias serving nutrient-lacking foods, but
also many schools allow vending machines and fast food companies to
advertise in their schools. Meryl Loonin states that: "Schools sell junk
food and soda in vending machines and cafeterias because this is
...