Blog 13: New Rules for School Meals

http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/25/health/usda-school-lunches/index.html

USDA Issues New Rules for School Meals

Recently the USDA issued new rules regarding school lunches which states that lunches must include fruits and vegetables every day. Author of the article, Park, states that the meal programs, which feed about 32 million students in public and private schools, will have to reduce sodium, saturated fat and trans fats. Schools must also offer more whole grains as well as fat-free or low-fat milk varieties. Although this won't go in effect until July 1st, it is going to be affective to schools everywhere. The new nutrition standards are largely based on recommendations by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, as part of efforts to curb childhood obesity. Recent numbers show that about 17% of children in the United States are obese. First lady, Michelle Obama, stated  "When we send our kids to school, we expect that they won't be eating the kind of fatty, salty, sugary foods that we try to keep them from eating at home," Obama said in a news release. "We want the food they get at school to be the same kind of food we would serve at our own kitchen tables. “The USDA offered a free sample weekly lunch with before and after comparisons. In conclusions to the article, The School Nutrition Association, which represents 55,000 school nutrition professionals, said, "Through healthier choices and nutrition education, school meal programs have made tremendous strides to promote better food choices for America's students. These national nutrition standards will help school nutrition professionals build on their successes."

 This is a social global issue that affects schools everywhere because students need a nutritional school lunch to get them through school. The fact that America has been facing an issue of obesity for years now, there is something that has to be done to address the issue. Although it is a little harsh when Park says the students will be "forced to take the fruits and vegetables…" I believe there is no other way to provide them with the right nutrients. There is too much money going into pizza, fries, and cookies for students who need their "brain food". Students in elementary and middle schools might not care for the newly proposed meal plan, but parents and faculty are all for it, and in the end it will be better for students. The fact that the cafeteria staff argued that the kids will not eat it, is saying that they have no hope in the new programs. I believe that if they were to be a little more positive and understand that this is a worldwide issue, more people would be accepting to it.