Leah VanLandingham
Mr. McGuire
American Government
12 September 2013
A Deep Fried Nightmare
For the past few decades, obesity has been a major concern in America. Processed and fatty foods seem to be taking over life as we know it. There is no time and not enough currency in the fast paced American lifestyle to purchase and prepare a healthy, expensive, and nutritious meal, nor does a nutritious meal sound appealing to the oncoming generations. They have been spoon-fed preservatives and insoluble fats since adolescence. Could this be the reason kids refuse to eat healthy when offered a healthy alternative in places such as school cafeterias? Children of today’s generation seem to pass up the carrots and go straight for the fries. School systems, the federal government, and health administrations have tried to fight this, but it is the will of the children. The federal government should not try to force the healthy lunch programs, however, they should give information of and provide healthy alternatives and let the children decide their consumption choices.
Since the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, public schools have been required to follow new and innovative nutritional guidelines to receive extra lunch financial aid from the federal government. What do these guidelines have in store? A lunch that is healthier, smaller in portions sizes, and more expensive than they ever were before. This has the kids of public schools, particularly high schools, shaking with anger. The high school kids can say goodbye to their beloved cheesy nachos, fried potatoes, and greasy white bread crusted pizza. Limits on fat and sodium have caused for a dramatic change on the menus at many high schools. The menus went from high calorie and fat filled, to whole-wheat breaded pizza and low-fat dairy options, now to eliminating pizza and other fatty “unnecessary” foods completely off the menu. Calorie restrictions are top priority, making it so high calorie substances such...