Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low sodium--these are just a few criteria that cafeteria workers have to look out for. “We try to serve nutritious meals that students will enjoy and [that will help them] do better in school activities,” head of NHHS’ cafeteria Mary Wilson stated. Some school districts, including New Haven, have been going by these guidelines before they were made to.
Mary Wilson explained the guidelines that school kitchens now have to follow. They have to watch for amount of sodium, calories, sugar, etc. They also have to make sure each student is getting the proper amount of nutrients in each lunch. New Haven High and many other schools are making this change by making fruits and vegetables an option as a side and are limiting the amount of sweets that students take in at school. Patricia Weatherly stated, “I really miss the ice cream cups.” The sweetness that the students once had are no longer around. “They are okay with some things; meaning everybody would like to have something sweet,” mentioned Mary Wilson.
If a school does not make these changes and get rid of the sweet treats, they are putting students at risk for different health issues, such as heart disease, diabetes, liver disease, and obesity. According to the Livestrong website, school lunches can cause these risks due to being high in sodium. Seemingly-healthy lunches can cause diabetes due to high fructose (a sugar mainly found in honey and fruit) and corn syrup. Liver disease is caused by taking in too much food that contains refined flour and processed whole grains; these two ingredients in food can cause the body to release insulin more rapidly than it is needed.
When it comes to not getting enough nutrients from the school lunches, it may lower students’ IQ scores, memory capacities, fine motor skills, social skills and language skills into early adulthood and beyond. These are all skills that are needed in not only school activities, and at work, but are also needed in everyday life.
As a final result, school lunches are now better for the students at many schools. With the changes that have been made, each student comes to school ready for new knowledge and can continue their day receiving the new knowledge that they need to learn, all because they are getting the nutrients that they need in each school lunch.
-by Zoie Mathis
If a school does not make these changes and get rid of the sweet treats, they are putting students at risk for different health issues, such as heart disease, diabetes, liver disease, and obesity. According to the Livestrong website, school lunches can cause these risks due to being high in sodium. Seemingly-healthy lunches can cause diabetes due to high fructose (a sugar mainly found in honey and fruit) and corn syrup. Liver disease is caused by taking in too much food that contains refined flour and processed whole grains; these two ingredients in food can cause the body to release insulin more rapidly than it is needed.
When it comes to not getting enough nutrients from the school lunches, it may lower students’ IQ scores, memory capacities, fine motor skills, social skills and language skills into early adulthood and beyond. These are all skills that are needed in not only school activities, and at work, but are also needed in everyday life.
As a final result, school lunches are now better for the students at many schools. With the changes that have been made, each student comes to school ready for new knowledge and can continue their day receiving the new knowledge that they need to learn, all because they are getting the nutrients that they need in each school lunch.
-by Zoie Mathis
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