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Every lunch period, the cafeteria floods with hungry students seeking a much-needed break from their studies. Lunch is a significant part of the school day, providing a brief respite for students and teachers alike. As such, students must eat a filling, healthy meal to continue the school day.
The typical school lunch, however, leaves much to be desired in terms of health. School lunches for most students consist of a slice of pizza and a juice box. Some students may eat a burrito or another food of the same type, but pizza is the most common choice. One issue is that pizza lacks nutritional value, primarily composed of fats and carbohydrates, while severely lacking protein. According to Harvard University, protein is essential for maintaining a healthy body due to its numerous vital uses. Additionally, protein should account for 10-35% of a person’s calorie intake, a requirement not met by pizza.
In modern society, we often fill our bodies with what we desire rather than what is best. In the last century, according to the NIH, obesity has skyrocketed. According to the CDC, obesity has a strong correlation to heart disease, type-2 diabetes and other conditions. However, many of these developments were caused by an increasing trend of unhealthy eating. Thus, these problems can be avoided through a healthy diet.
Additionally, Sutter Health writes eating healthily can boost mental health, concentration and attention span. However, the opposite is also true; unhealthy eating habits can lead to impaired decision-making, slow reaction time, and even stress and depression. According to the University of Virginia, eating sufficiently is an important consideration. Not meeting one’s bodily requirements leads to an impairment in focus and as a result, can cause students to suffer academically.
Furthermore, insufficient food doesn’t just result in inequality based on wealth; it is closely intertwined with it—to eat more, one must pay more. The University of Virginia correlated food insecurity with diminished cognitive and socio-emotional skills, affecting children as early as kindergarten. This is problematic at school, the place meant to provide equality, independent of students’ backgrounds. As such, they must provide free, nutritious meals for all, notably for children of underprivileged backgrounds.
Another, more frivolous reason for eating healthy is skin health. Acne is a major insecurity for teens, many of whom spend lots of money on skincare products as well as obsessing in front of the mirror about whatever pimples they may have. However, most fail to consider eating healthily as a way to better their skin. According to an article hosted by the NIH, it has been consistently proven that diet (specifically high glycemic index and glycemic load) correlates with increased acne and acne severity.
It is paramount for the school nutrition system to reflect the interests of students. School is meant to promote mental health, physical health and academics. Changing the nutrition system would be an excellent way to encourage these ideals. Schools need to back up their claims of caring about the well-being of students.
If teens were to eat healthy meals at school, it could translate to meals outside of school. Our school must set an example of how to live healthily. It is human nature to repeat the tendencies we observe. As such, modeling healthy habits at school could inspire students to adopt similar eating habits at home. This makes it all the more important that schools demonstrate positive, rather than negative eating habits.
A potential solution is to increase funding, enabling the acquisition of higher-quality meals. A budget increase would mean that there is sufficient food for students. Healthy food tends to be more expensive; more money would mean that healthy meals would be viable. Additionally, involving parents in the decision-making process regarding their kids’ meals would likely prove to be effective. Parents could do so by voicing their opinions at school board meetings. Such administrations are obligated to listen to their constituents to a certain extent and with enough support, they could achieve a more fair, just system for their children.
The state of school lunches poses significant challenges, negatively impacting students’ health, academic performance and well-being. To address this issue, I suggest increasing funding for higher-quality meals, involving parents in decision-making, and implementing stricter nutritional standards at the state level. These steps are crucial in ensuring better nutrition and equality for all California students, setting the stage for healthier, more equitable school environments that support overall student well-being and academic success.
