Children's Health and Fitness - Len Saunders

From The Statesman?..

It?s almost time for kids to go back to school. But for many children in Austin, this means a return to terribly unhealthy school lunches fried chicken, pizza pockets, corn dogs, and desserts loaded with high-fructose corn syrup that jeopardize the health and well-being of America?s next generation. This needs to change.

Unfortunately, Texas gets a bad grade for childhood obesity and malnutrition. A 2011 report notes that the state is one of nine in the United States where more than 20 percent of kids between the ages of 10 and 17 were considered obese ? ranking seventh in the nation. It is unlikely that an overweight child will slim down by the time he or she reaches adulthood ? 80 percent of children who are obese between the ages of 10 and 15 remain obese at age 25. Children who eat poorly are at greater risk of developing osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and liver problems later in life.

Fortunately, schools can play a key role in reversing this trend and reinforcing healthy eating behaviors. By emphasizing hands-on nutrition education, such as school garden projects and classroom cooking demonstrations, and by providing fresh, local fruits and vegetables in cafeterias, schools can encourage students to improve their diets.

Several school districts in Texas, such as Judson, Lancaster and Northside, have joined the national Farm to School movement, which connects schools to local farms with the purpose of serving healthy, organic meals in cafeterias. Kids benefit from the fresh, nutritious and tasty food, and the state economy benefits from expanding local food networks. The Farm to School initiative has the potential to create billions in food sales that would benefit not only students, but Texas farmers, businesses and consumers.

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Source: http://www.lensaunders.com/wp/?p=3248

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