Should Schools Play a Bigger Role in Promoting a Healthy Lifestyle for Its Student Body?

Should schools play a bigger role in promoting a healthy lifestyle for its student body?

Do you ever think about what elementary school cafeterias are serving to the children of this generation? In the past, lunch ladies would spend time cooking and preparing homemade and healthier food for the students. In our new generation, schools are serving processed food from companies; nothing organic, healthy or homemade. The food that the children are eating is full of fat and salt, which can harm our bodies. Schools should take the lead in encouraging healthy eating and healthy living.  We depend on our learning institutions to be responsible for educating our children and providing them with the knowledge that they need to succeed in the world today but yet we give them a free pass when it comes to providing kids with a healthy meal at the school cafeteria.

Firstly, a child who becomes accustomed to eating unhealthy food on a daily basis at primary school will likely go on to make the same unhealthy choices outside of the school environment. This will obviously lead to an unhealthy lifestyle as the child grows and moves on to secondary education. It is no secret that habits are formed at a young age. If they start in elementary school, it is almost certain that these habits will continue with them in their next stages of life.

Children quickly realize that the primary school that they attend on a daily basis is the place where they go to learn, a place where knowledge is provided.  Grade school teachers become role-models.  Kids don’t know how to be healthy on their own, the choice must be given to them and they must learn by their elders in their lives. Knowing that school becomes a model for the child, it is essential that we consider all elements of the school day and their role in modeling.  Outside of learning in class, eating is the next most common activity.  One could then infer that in a given school day, the cafeteria has an incredible influence on our children, second only to the teachers.  To not take advantage of this opportunity to set an example for children is a shame.