Talking Turkey on Junk Food in Schools
Whatever your cultural or ethnic background, conversations inevitably turn to food this time of year. Do you celebrate Thanksgiving or just “get together”? Do you eat meat and is it free-range? Are the vegetables organic? What is a healthy dessert? Gluten free? What about sugar? And then there is the ever-present concern; how will we all keep off those extra holiday pounds? Getting family members together with different practices, politics and palates for one big meal can be complicated and controversial.
Lots of thought and effort go into the meals we serve at home and on holidays. And there is an equally serious and intense conversation happening right now about the profound impact that school foods have on the health of our children.Many schools now sell snacks and drinks in lots of places beyond the lunch line. In fact, children consume up to 400 billion calories from junk food though vending machines, stores, and à la carte lines per year. And nearly half of all students can buy snack foods at school. Unfettered access to chips,