Legislating Cafeteria Food.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

I am sure that a large percentage of those who post on the boards have at least overheard some news on the Naked Chef's (Jamie Oliver) new kick, that being the reduction, if not the complete abolishment of the traditional cafeteria food of burgers, fries, and the rest of the greasy foods which one associates with a school cafeteria. And to date there have actually been quite a few governments that have jumped onboard with this movement, Tony Blairs New Labour Party for instance. However is this what governments should be doing, should they be legislating the food which is injested by the youth of a nation while they are on school grounds?

When I examine this issue the thoguht that initially came to my mind was, is this just a smokescreen which is being used in order to conveniently blame someone (anyone) for the rising levels of obesity in todays children. Should we as a society rather be doing more to promote physical activity than to merely change eating paterns. By blaiming food time and time again are we not just providing another avenue by which we can ignore the nations sloth.

At the same time any effort to reduce the levels of obesity should be taken as a positive sign, especially with regards to the future health care costs associated with obesity related ailments such as diabetes, heart disease, many different forms of cancer, and the list goes on and on.

So I guess the question that I pose to you, what should be done in order to combat this ever popular issue. Are we even able to do anything?

[flamingchina]

I think it's a good enough idea, if the schools are run by the government, they can choose what to feed the kids.
banning it outside of that though I'm against.
It's just not diet thats turning the little things into porkers though, it's also the sedentry lifestyle...

[Tower]

Hey I'm all for burgers - but I'm for regulating what can be called a burger. Regulating the ingredients that are put in our food. THAT IS the issue.

[CarlW]

I actually saw the Jamie Oliver special series that showed him trying to change the cafeteria food, and some of the most disturbing thing that I found were that the kids could not name some vegetables when they were shown it (IE. Celery). Whats worse is that some interviews with the parents showed that they just fed their kids what they wanted aka what the schools fed them. The grossest story was when Oliver was talking to a doctor where he told a story of a kid that came in that did not get enough fibre in his diet because of the foods he was getting at school and home, basically the kid got really constipated and since waste had to leave the body he threw it up .

I don't think things are nearly that bad here in Canada don't know about the States, but we should definately change things now so that they do not become that way in the future.

[FireFly]

I'm in agreement that there is such a thing as a healthy hamburger. How about we try to avoid deep-frying everything, and quit giving them pop? Kids still have to be kids, so give them healthy food 4 days a week, and healthier versions of junk food on the fifth?

[Calgary Flames]

If you get a lean burger with veggies, bread, cheese you've basically covered every single food group in one tasty item.

[arsenal]

The issues that Jamie Oliver are addressing goes way farther than just obesity. It drives deep into issues such as kids ability to pay attention in class, ADDHD, as well as obesity.

The theory is that if kids eat a good healthy balanced diet, they will be able to concentrate better, and get better grades. Not to mention live healthier life styles. If kids eat healthier, then will there be a need prescribe Ritalin for kids that are having trouble concentrating? Or are kids have trouble concentrating, becuase of the junk they are eating? There by getting Ritalin prescriptions, and just masking the problem.

As to should the government be stepping in and mandating what school should be feeding the kids? Sure why not. The schools get their funding from the Gov't. it is up to the governemnt to provide enough funding so that schools can provide the right foods to the kids. I think Jamie Oliver proved that a school could provide healthy food for the kids, on just about the same budget that provided the junk.

[CaramonLS]

The solutions are actually really simple, and there are ones that don't have to completely nullify taste either. However, they can be more expensive.

Example:

Using Extra lean ground beef: 1/4 a pound (uncooked) (only 5% fat ground) to make burgers is only about 6 grams of fat when broiled. 7-8 grams when done by Pan.

So basically this has as much beef as a McDonald's Quarter pounder.

Using Light cheese instead of processed, or small amounts of processed cheese. A Kraft singles slice, extra thin is about 3 grams of fat.

We are now up to about 10 grams of fat. Not bad for a burger.

Mayo is where you can really cut back too: 10 grams per serving regular, 4.5 per Light, 2 grams reduced fat. (Hellmanns Mayo).

Now... Why does the Burger run up in the 30s and 40s for fat content? Use of Non-Lean products because they are cheaper, much cheaper.

No name brand Mayo and cheese, one of the cheese slices at a resteraunt usually has around 10 grams itself. The Mayo is almost never reduced fat. The ground beef is also a high fat content.



My point is there are alternatives to eating high fat foods, really easy ones what don't sacrfice taste. Because thats how you are going to get kids to like that food. Good tasting alternatives.

[lucid]

Huge Jamie Oliver fan here. There deffinitely should be some changes to the cafeteria offerings, not to mention the vending machines, as well.

Though, it's important to remember the differences in the school system between Canada and the UK. (And you could put the US in there as well, but I'm not that familiar with how schools are run there). How many schools in this province have meal-programs where all students eat cafeteria food... every day? It's a lot more common-place in the UK, and hence, a lot easier to start changing cafeteria offerings and monitoring what it provided and what is consummed by students.

Some schools are starting to do little things, but it would be great to have a government-backed initiative. I know some elementary schoolsw don't allow students to bring "junk" for snack time. No chips, no chocolate bars, no pop... and I haven't heard parents say that their kids are complaining.
I remember being fairly involved in high school trying to get some healthy alternatives into the vending machines and the cafeteria. And I couldn't believe the wall we all ran up against. Too expensive for a school to do this on their own, we were told, amongst other reasons. All we wanted were some cereal bars and maybe some fruit (apples, and some 'light' caramel dip, always seems to be a well-liked snack). It wasn't much, but it would've been a start. Needless to say, our program couldn't even get off the ground.

There are so many simple alternatives out there. Parents need to take an active role in this as well, and start teaching their kids about these things early on in life. Way too many things get dumped on the schools lately... when better parenting (overall) wouldn't hurt.