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.
In earlier years, parents were totally in control of their children's meals and eating habits. Lunch boxes contained mostly sandwiches, fruit and healthy snacks to provide kids with the needed energy and nutrients for a long school day and there were few temptations other than swapping sandwiches or fruit with a classmate. Today, the old lunch boxes have been replaced by feeding schemes or tuck shops at schools. The more affluent kids buy whatever they fancy at the tuck shop, while kids from poor families often have nothing to eat or can only afford the cheapest sweets or gum available. The sad part is that school meal vending machines mostly stock unhealthy junk food 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.
The days of lunch boxes packed with healthy snacks and fruit became almost old-fashioned. Many schools abandoned subsidized school feeding programs due to lack of funding or other factors. The modern trend is privately owned school kiosks and vending machines where kids can decide what they want to buy. It is easier for the school and the parents, and kids enjoy the freedom of choice to buy what they want. But at what price?
Furthermore, it was found that the huge amounts of money that most countries invest in healthy school meal programs, are undercut by these vending machine traders as their products do not have to meet national nutritional standards. But who is to blame and how to fix the problem? In a capitalistic world where money is the driving force behind all major businesses, it is the youth - the future leaders - who pays the price for corporate greed.
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.
The only solution seems to be to instill a solid knowledge and love of healthy food in kids from a young age. That way they can make a calculated choice and demand healthy food at schools themselves.
In earlier years, parents were totally in control of their children's meals and eating habits. Lunch boxes contained mostly sandwiches, fruit and healthy snacks to provide kids with the needed energy and nutrients for a long school day and there were few temptations other than swapping sandwiches or fruit with a classmate. Today, the old lunch boxes have been replaced by feeding schemes or tuck shops at schools. The more affluent kids buy whatever they fancy at the tuck shop, while kids from poor families often have nothing to eat or can only afford the cheapest sweets or gum available. The sad part is that school meal vending machines mostly stock unhealthy junk food 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.
The days of lunch boxes packed with healthy snacks and fruit became almost old-fashioned. Many schools abandoned subsidized school feeding programs due to lack of funding or other factors. The modern trend is privately owned school kiosks and vending machines where kids can decide what they want to buy. It is easier for the school and the parents, and kids enjoy the freedom of choice to buy what they want. But at what price?
Furthermore, it was found that the huge amounts of money that most countries invest in healthy school meal programs, are undercut by these vending machine traders as their products do not have to meet national nutritional standards. But who is to blame and how to fix the problem? In a capitalistic world where money is the driving force behind all major businesses, it is the youth - the future leaders - who pays the price for corporate greed.
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.
The only solution seems to be to instill a solid knowledge and love of healthy food in kids from a young age. That way they can make a calculated choice and demand healthy food at schools themselves.
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