Photo by: hobvias sudoneighm.
My nephew came home last year with a coupon for a Happy Meal for reading 10 books in his school’s reading program. I remember watching his glowing face while he waved that coupon in front of me. I am a strong advocate of reading. There is an unwritten rule between us that he can buy a book any time we visit a bookstore together (which is a little too often for my wallet). Since reading to his mom consist of trashy celebrity magazines, I always felt that it is my duty to introduce that little boy to the magic you find in books. I remember thinking: “Should I praise him for reading all those books or should I have a discussion about junk food advertisement?”
Stop using fake educational material sponsored by food companies
When voters defeat school levies or bonds, where can schools turn to for the funding they need to operate? That is right – food companies are more than happy to fill in the funding gap for displaying advertisements, passing out coupons, or sponsoring learning material. There are even PR firms that specialize in placing corporate promotional materials in schools such as the Lifetime Learning System. Often times, money strapped schools are purchasing these learning materials at cut rate prices, thinking they are spending tax money wisely. Approximately 25 states require teachers to take a nutrition course so most teachers depend on purchased materials for nutritional information, if they even teach nutrition at all. Most of these sponsored earning material contain half truths such as fat is necessary for fat soluble vitamins, but forget to mention that excess fat leads to health diseases. The scary thing is that a lot of my readers probably know more about nutrition than most of the teachers teaching our kids.
Cereal box tops exchange programs encourage otherwise healthy children to eat sugary cereals
Another indirect way that schools encourage our families to eat processed food is the cereal box tops or soup labels exchange for cash programs sponsored by food companies. The children convince their parents to purchase these sugary cereal for the box tops to give to the schools. And children that normally do not eat sugary cereal often feel like they are not a team player if they are not adding to the cereal box top pile at the classroom.
And school lunch program loopholes and self sustaining requirement often leads to cheap fatten food choices.
Federal guidelines require that school lunches provide 1/3rd the daily caloric requirement, protein, calcium, iron, vitamin C, and vitamin A. And the school lunches cannot include more than 30% of its calories from fat and no more than 10% from saturated fat. Sounds healthy right?
Here is the loophole – the requirement does not need to be met on a daily basis. As long as their weekly average meets the requirement, then it is okay. And many school districts require that food serving department in the cafeteria be self sustaining. That is why some days, you would find pizza, mac and cheese, and tater tots on the menu (all high fat and cheap).
Here is another hole – as long as schools show that they are making progress in complying with the federal guidelines, states usually allow schools to waive complete implementation of the school lunch program. My nephew’s elementary school is offering 1% and nonfat milk this year instead of whole and 2% milk, so their school lunch program is making progress with complying with the federal guidelines.
As for that discussion with my nephew, I decided to praise him for reading all those books. Call me a sellout, but I feel there is a time and place for everything. And right now that little boy needs reinforcement that books are his friends. Besides he “lost” his Happy Meal coupon a few hours later. ;
Until next time and thanks for stopping by Small Steps to Health.
Like what you are reading? How about subscribing? It's free!
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
You make some good points Asithi but unfortunately that’s the way it is. The companies with the most money have a huge sway over many of our trusted institutions (Governments, schoools) etc. They also know that marketing to kids is highly profitable because;
- a) The kids have ‘pester power’ meaning they will pester their parents to buy stuff they want. Most parents eventually crack and give in to the pestering.
- b) If you can get them hooked at an early age it’s much less likely they will continue buying the company’s products throughout during adulthood.
It may not be ethical but most companies are only interested in what makes the most money. Even companies that are percieved to be ethical may not be. They often go down the ethical route because they believe there is more money to be made this way or they have to by law.
At the end of the day you just have to teach your children the value of healthy eating and exercise and hope that these lessons stay with them during their adult lives.
Tom Parker – Free Fitness Tipss last blog post……Don’t let SAD Ruin your Christmas
Pull your kids out of school and teach them yourself. Get other parents involved. Like Tom mentions, companies have too much sway and not enough ethics. You wouldn’t let your kids stay with Uncle Walmart would you? Then don’t send them to Mc-University.
I sound harsh. Perhaps there’s a middle ground.
@SRS – Tough love. I love it! But what about for those parents who cannot afford to home school their kids?
{ 1 trackback }