Schools and Junk food

[corky]

In my local paper this week was an article about the local school thinking about getting rid of junk machines but really questioning it because it raises $15 000/yr for the school--and where does the money go you ask?? To the athletics dept.!! Ok, i don't even want to comment on that. How sad is that? I guess the positive is that they are 'thinking' about it. Some other school recently did it so hats off to them!! It can be done.

[Curtis]

lol how in the world did society ever accept putting junk food machines in schools and for some taking out physical education classes?

[lil]

Yes, it's an issue here too.

There was something on TV recently about this, where they examined a school with behaviourally challenged students who were given fresher food (gasp! salad!) and the behaviours were reduced.

Our local University shut down all the (free) water fountains in the school and stocked Dasani bottled water (A salt ridden coca cola product- it's NOT water!) into the paid machines. I believe they have put the water fountains back on since the students went to the press.

[Curtis]

Sigh it's a sad thing when schools care more how to make money than the health of their students.

[qetta]

There was something on TV recently about this, where they examined a school with behaviourally challenged students who were given fresher food (gasp! salad!) and the behaviours were reduced.

Part of the movie Supersize Me touched on this. I also read an article about some prison that started using real, fresh food and noticed behavior improvements in the inmates. Very interesting stuff!

[magnolia]

it raises $15 000/yr for the school--and where does the money go you ask?? To the athletics dept.!!

I bet that it's not the athletes that are eating that junk... so it's like the overweight supporting the fit... at least if they are going to have a machine like that, the money raised should be put to a good use... like athletics!

What about a vending machine that stocks fresh fruit and veggies? Wouldn't that be a riot to see in the schools?

[corky]

You go girl!!

[vegbaby]

ARG, this makes me so mad. This is one of the main reasons I am against public schooling. What kind of messages are they sending our children. The other pet peeve of mine is the ads which appear on school computers, often donated by big junk food companies.

Melanie

[FEELIN'GOOD]

It is ashamed... I was actually at my daughters school today for their book fair, and the teachers don't even have a vending machine! I heard a few of them complaining about it in the lounge. So it's great that they arn't doing that there. But they sell these neon necklaces, cool erasers, bookmarks with feathers, and cool pencils during recess to make money- They sell like crazy! The kids want to spend their money- eliminate the crap machines and give them positive things to focus on that make school fun. I give my daughter's school a 100% A+! Thanks for posting this thread because it made me realize that my daughter is in good hands.