Food In Schools
Many secondary schools sell carbonated soft drinks, crisps and chocolate bars
to students, often in very large quantities. Where schools have canteens, these
often sell a high proportion of junk food. We think that all schools
should only sell foods that make a positive contribution to the health of children. Even in National Schools, where food
is not sold to students, many parents struggle with the school food
culture. Often parents tell us that they try to send their children to school with wholesome food, but
junk-food is the norm and they feel like they are swimming against the
tide.
A school shop or canteen is part of the
school environment and therefore has an educational role, as does a
vending machine situated in a school. Children learn about healthy eating
as part of the curriculum, and it is therefore perverse when foods that
are unhealthily high in fat, sugar or salt are promoted in school. When
schools sell junk food, it gives the impression that junk food is endorsed
by authorities. Children need to be educated and empowered so that they
can make informed healthy choices about their diet. However, it is crucial
that the school environment should promote a culture of healthy eating, as
it is pointless talking to children about a healthy diet when junk food is
so easily available at school.
When schools are made aware of the health and performance issues associated
with junk food consumption, they are usually keen to change, and we have successfully
facilitated this process. It is possible to promote healthier alternatives to
students, and when students understand the issues involved they tend to be
supportive of change. We have helped schools to source more appropriate options,
and schools are usually able to maintain the financial concessions from the sale
of food. Teachers report anecdotally that behaviour improves as students move
away from inappropriate food.
Just as schools do not raise money through pinball machines or gambling, we
feel that they should not raise money through the sale of junk food. We feel
that schools are not to blame for the situation...they have had little or no support on this
issue. One of the main aims of our work is to facilitate schools and guide them through a
process of change. In order to do this, we work with food suppliers that can
provide healthy food in schools. As a health consultancy, we don't take
this issue lightly, and we ensure that the food supplied to schools is
wholesome and nutritious. We have found that this is the best way to
displace junk food consumption and to encourage healthy eating.
If
wholesome, tasty food is available at school, children tend to respond in
a positive way. Click here if you
are interested in having healthy food supplied to your school.
Check with your own school to see what is on offer at the
canteen/school shop. Don't be afraid to point out the issue to school
management. Why not write to your TD to outline your concerns? Why isn't your
local health board doing more to help schools? Why not write to them and
find out? Grass roots
pressure is the only thing that will change the current situation.
