Fat Kids
... lives, yet they are not thought to be able to choose between a burger and a tossed salad? The obesity rate in adults is not a great deal lower than children’s with the statistic of 32% of adult Canadians being considered overweight, yet fast food is still readily available in many workplaces and throughout the entire world. High school students, especially the older grades, are not far from becoming full-fledged adults who will soon have a huge selection of innumerable junk foods available to them. Simply cutting off access for their five years of schooling would not prepare them for the overwhelming supply of unhealthy foods available to them after their secondary education is completed. It is a regrettable fact that profit gained by the sale of junk food is a substantial contribution to some schools’ under-funded budget. The money made from many cafeterias play an important role in the school’s ability to finance other important programs such as sports or clubs. Some may argue that the amount made from the sale of healthy food could replace this income, but it is an unfortunate fact that nothing is as inexpensive to stock as junk food. The cost of healthy food would be somewhat higher, resulting in higher prices needing to be paid by the students. Many school district residents cannot afford paying elevated prices for lunches. It is a shame that we live in an environment where a can of sugar-filled caffeinated cola is less expensive than a simple bottle of spring water. Perhaps if we could solve the problem of school funding or expensive healthy alternatives, it would be plausible to remove junk food from schools. Unfortunately in our present situation, it does not seem like this is a feasible option. Prohibiting the sale of unhealthy foods would not solve the long-term problem of obesity in Canada. Simply cutting off access to junk food would only push back the problem a few years, or possible do nothing at all. Eating choices are not solely based on school habits alone. Choices made in the home are a chief contributor to food tendencies. Examples set in the home will be carried on into school life. In regards to barring foods from schools, simply removing temptation does not instill the ability for these young adults to make the correct decision when alternatives are present. I believe that education is key. Informing students about the pros and cons of different foods and providing them with a basic level of nutritional understanding would greatly contribute to the betterment of the health of today’s youth. Also, providing the option of healthy foods in school is a must. The presence of healthier alternatives would encourage the students to make the right decision for themselves. Students...