There could be changes in our very own Hillgrove cafeteria next school year. President Trump’s administration has expressed a plan to overhaul Michelle Obama’s healthy lunch initiative set in place since 2010. She used school lunches to further her mission to conquer childhood obesity in America. The“Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010” allocated $4.5 billion towards healthier options, such as salads and wraps, to be available in schools nationwide. America’s new Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue, announced last week that he was taking away Obama’s program. Perdue plans to take away lunch regulations, such as one must eat a fruit or vegetable, and let schools have “regulatory flexibility”. There are pros and cons to this idea, but we need to be careful for the sake of our country's health.
Dear Secretary of Agriculture Mr. Perdue,
Over the years, we have all heard students complain about the taste of school lunches. Recent complaints usually include, “This has no flavor, “ “This is stale, “ “This is greasy, “ or “I don’t want this.” Is it the government's’ fault for trying to make school food healthier? Is it the quality of ingredients that the food is being made with? Who exactly is to blame for these less than mediocre school lunches? The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 33% of all adults and 17% of children are obese in America. Here in the South, there is an even higher percentage of obese adults. It seems like the answer to solving obesity is not just to point fingers and reverse healthy programs, but find out the root of the problem.
If kids are eating unhealthily at a young age and are raised in a household where they cannot get a sufficient amount of fruits and vegetables, they will likely be obese or live an unhealthy lifestyle. So if the only way a child will eat a nutritious meal is at school, because the government’s regulations are forcing them to, then those should not be taken away or ‘given more flexibility’. What exactly does regulatory flexibility mean? Are you going to allow kids to get unlimited amounts of food? I’m trying to understand why you think that taking away Michelle Obama’s legacy is a good idea. If you are really concerned about the health of the students, there should be a way for the food to be healthy, with real ingredients, and have a good taste. As shown in the above picture, America has a long way to go in the school lunch industry in comparison to other countries. I hope that you are keeping the well being of America’s children in your mind.
Sincerely,
Amanda
Picture Credits: UpShout