Many schools have gotten involved with better nutrition for their students. The documentary “Supersize Me” brought to light the dietary changes Appleton Central Alternative High School in Appleton, Wisconsin has made for its student body. This inner city, public school services children with severe truancy and behavioral problems. Greg Bretthauer, dean of the school, states that they were “fortunate to have stumbled” onto a food service that helps schools to cook, prepare, and provide children with food that is low fat, low sugar, non-chemically processed, and free of dyes and preservatives. Natural Owens of Manitowoc, Wisconsin makes sure the school has plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, foods full of whole grains, and quality proteins that the staff can prepare. Nothing is fried, and most foods are prepared fresh each day. The students’ truancy and behavioral problems have been “turned…around, not through discipline, but through diet,” Bretthauer shares. The school’s social worker, Debra Larson, claims that when they got rid of the candy and pop machines and brought in bottled water, “We saw a major change in the kids.” They were no longer out of control, at risk students. Teachers at the school get more out of them in the classroom and they seem to be more focused (Spurlock, “Supersize Me”).
This school is not alone. In Lithonia, Georgia, Browns Mill Elementary School, Principal Dr. Yvonne Sanders-Butler got not only the staff, students, and parents involved with a better diet, she got the whole community involved, as well. She started the first sugar-free school, which is documented in her book, “Healthy Kids, Smart Kids.” By eliminating refined sugar from her students’ diets, as well as incorporating a wide range of other whole nutritious foods, this school saw remarkable positive results in the children’s behavior and even higher test scores (Sanders-Butler). The school adopted this practice in 1999 and within a year “student disciplinary problems dropped, as did visits to the school nurse, while math and reading scores improved by 15 percent” (Thomas).
Many food services are jumping on the nutrition band wagon. Should a school want to make healthy changes, it is available, and it does not cost much more to do so. However, it should not be a money issue, it is a health issue, and our children are worth it. Chef Ann Cooper, Director of Nutrition Services, works with California schools to achieve a higher standard of health. Her web site, www.chefann.com, is a wealth of information for anyone wanting to add healthy food to their diet, and it is child friendly. She also has a colorful “meal wheel” that can be downloaded to remind children of good food choices.
Works Cited:
Cooper, Ann. “Lunch Lessons, Changing the Way We Feed Our Children.” 4 July 2008.
http://www.chefann.com
Sanders-Butler, Yvonne, Ed.D., Healthy Kids, Smart Kids. New York: Penguin Group, 2005.
Supersize Me. Dir.Morgan Spurlock. DVD. Kathbur Pictures, Inc. 2004.
Thomas, Chandra R. “She Created the First Sugar-Free School.” People 68.21 (19 Nov. 2001):97-97. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Columbine Library, Littleton, CO.
6 June 2008. http://0-search.ebscohost.com
7 comments:
I think that Supersizing was the worst thing that could happen to the people of this nation. People should be having small healthy portions for meals drummed into their heads.
Nice piece, I have not seen supersize me but my daughter has and she refuses to eat fast food. The documentary was shown at school in health class.
I never saw the movie but I think that it is an interesting topic. I always think about it when I am eating at a restaurant and how big the portion sizes are.
When my Husband and I go out to eat we always split something... it not only saves on the calories but the bill as well!
this is a bib problem that our nation faces! and i am glad to see that there are some places out there setting a good example. proving that it is possible to do!
I am glad to see that schools are starting to back up heathy eating habbits. I remember when I was in school it was so convenient to get pop and junk food, and there was no one there to watch what kids ate.
I do not eat refined and processed foods as of august of last year, and I have noticed a severe change in my focus and overall persona in school. I am motivated and I want to learn. This "sugar free school" idea should be incorporated in every single school in the US, and the government should back it, seeing as they are the ones who ultimately have the money.
Hi Diane,
Good job on your blog. I particularly like the way you divided your paper up into subtopics. That made it much easier to digest (pun intended) in an online forum. The only improvement I would suggest is trying to incorporate more visuals; it really helps with online text if there are visuals as well. Good overall, though, thanks for being willing to try out blogging, and thanks for the recipe! I could see you doing a regular blog with healthy recipes for kids! Let me know if you decide to... I'm always on the lookout for things like that.
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