Kids aren’t getting enough green stuff on their plates. But the fix for that problem won’t be cheap.
That’s according to an Institute of Medicine report released this week that says school lunches need a makeover.
Federal standards are lacking because they don’t restrict the number of calories kids are offered. In fact the standards don’t even meet the government’s own dietary guidelines.
Part of the problem in making the fix is that the federal dollars received by schools aren’t keeping pace with the cost of rising food prices.
Congress is now facing pressure to boost spending on school lunches. We agree, but only if the raise is used to add more fruits and veggies to the menu.
Childhood obesity is a very real problem. One that grows up and becomes adult obesity.
In our view, spending more on helping children eat healthier foods is far less expensive on the money we’ll be spending on health care later on. And, what could be more fundamental to the whole health care issue than that?
The new report also says that there should be a ceiling on the number of calories served. Lunch should be no more than 650 to 850 calories, and breakfast should be no more than 500 to 600 calories, depending on the grade.
It’s hard to stay below those numbers serving up helpings of tater tots and fried chicken tenders.
The evidence keeps mounting that the wrong food has contributed immensely to America’s health crisis.
Certainly one of the most visible features of that is obesity.
