Government Food Regulation: Restricted or Respected

Jasmine Isaac English 1103

What is Government Food Regulation?

The federal government mandates the

food that is served within the public school systems instead of each individual state.

Since 2010, the American government

has begun taking it upon itself to regulate what food is allowed to enter and be removed from the school systems.

According to Gardiner Harriss New York Times article, A Federal Effort to Push Junk Food out of School, in 2010, the Obama Administration began a drive to remove French Fries and Snickers bars from schools across America. The government has initiated several trendy programs to help promote the importance of a balanced diet and healthy eating;

MyPlate
The governments trendy new diagram, MyPlate, that illustrates the recommended amount of each food group that should be represented in every school lunch, to ensure a healthy meal

You would think with the aid of the government school lunches would look like this.

But
Even with the help of the government, lunches are still poorly constructed. Although wheat bread and fruit and other healthy options are incorporated now, French fries and cheaply made meat products are still present and unhealthy.

A Closer Look

According to Reed Abelsons New York Times article,F is for America Getting Fat, the rate of obesity is steadily increasing within the U.S.

The government has the right idea to revamp school lunches to prevent childhood obesity, but providing healthy food for schools throughout the nation is costly.

Often times the government cuts corners by providing:

some healthy options (fruits & veggies), but not healthy meals (over processed burgers & deep fried main courses).

Although the government has good intentions incorporating healthy options, cheaply made food is just as unhealthy.

Even though the school has healthier options now, I still think they use some cheap forms of food, especially when it comes to meat Evonne, Freshman

I have to get an apple or orange on my tray every day. I dont even like those fruits, so guess where they go at the end of lunch, in the trashcan. I would like healthy meal, not just an apple or orange here and there to satisfy the requirements.
Reggie, Senior

A Word From The Students of Cape Fear High

I mostly eat from the vending machines at lunch because the cafeteria food is disgusting. Mariah, Junior

What Do Parents Say?

According to parents.com, many parents are frustrated that the governments intervention on school lunch has still resulted in over processed meals laden with unhealthy preservatives, sodium, sugars, and trans fats.

Students are unhappy about the governments choice.

Restricted or Respected?

Many students and parents are against federal government food regulation; a compromise is necessary and possible. High schools have begun to hold surveys and polls to see what meals students would be more susceptible to According to the Burke County Schools Website, The SGA in several Burke County Schools have been given permission to collaborate and design a healthy school lunch menu for a few days out of each semester. Vending machines are being revamped with healthier options, (low calorie/sugar snacks and fruit juices) so even students that choose the vending machine snacks over lunch are still consuming less sugar/calories. With both students, parents, and the government working together to create healthy meals, government food regulation will become more appreciated and respected.

Hard Work Cited

Abelson, Reed. F is for America Getting Fat. New York Times. New York Times, 2012. Web. 5 Sept. 2013

Bullard, Reggie. Personal Interview. 13 Sept. 2013

Burke County Public Schools. Burke County School Systems. Web. 12 October 2013 Harris, Gardiner. A Federal Effort to Push Junk Food out of School. New York Times. New York Times, 2010. Web. 5 Sept. 2013 Larsen, Elizabeth. Parents. Parents Magazine. Web. 15 October 2013 Wayne, Evonne. Personal Interview. 13 Sept. 2013 Williams, Mariah. Personal Interview. 13 Sept. 2013