Last year, I attended the National Conference on Childhood Obesity and was stunned to learn that over one-third of American children are obese.  I listened to lecture after lecture and was saddened to know their futures would inevitably include higher rates of diabetes, heart disease and cancer.  Also, this generation is predicted to have shorter life-spans than their parents.  How could a thriving first-world nation be sick with declining life spans?

Fast-forward to July and the National School Nutrition Conference in Dallas.  It was clear what a powerful influence school food marketing has over children.   I witnessed wall-to-wall samples of “French fries that are healthier than carrots” and “fun shaped processed meats” .  With the addition of chemical injections and artificial flavorings, literally anything is possible with food.  This type of nutrition can blur the understanding of adults, so how will our kids know what foods are truly good for them?  My personal favorite were apples injected with artificial “flavorings” to taste like pomegranates – I listened intently as the sales rep explained that apples weren’t sweet enough for kids anymore because they eat so much sugar, so they have to make them sweeter with these chemicals.  Interesting…

It was the first time I realized that the school lunch program is truly an industry.  And, like all industries, a profit must be made.  That’s fair, but where does the money come from and how did it become such an unhealthy venture?

This question led me to explore the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).  During World War II, at least 40% of rejected U.S. military recruits were turned away for reasons related to poor nutrition (1).  Stunted growth and muscle weakness were among the most common problems.  In 1946, military leadership urged Congress to pass the NSLP to improve the health and well-being of our nation’s children.  In conjunction, the commodity program was developed to provide low or no-cost food items to the NSLP while also providing a guaranteed market for agricultural products.  In short, the federal government began to subsidize the cost of certain foods.  Producers of meat, dairy and feed crops received 73% of direct subsidies for food production while fruit and vegetable farmers received 1% (2).  In 2005, the federal government, through the commodities program, purchased $385M of beef and cheese primarily for school lunches and only $50M of fresh fruits and vegetables.  School districts can contract with food processors to turn these raw commodities into processed foods like hot dogs, bologna, chicken nuggets and pizza.  Foods not provided in the commodity system must be purchased by the school districts.  Without government subsidies, healthier, less processed foods most often cost more to the district.

The NSLP provides a free lunch for 28 million children from low-income families each day.  Unfortunately, for many of them, this is their only meal for the day.  And, it is often a poor source of nutrition.

NSLP meals are typically high in fat and sugar and most commonly include:

1)  Processed Meats - loaded with carcinogens and cholesterol.  Studies show that children who eat 12 or more hot dogs per month are 9 times more likely to develop childhood leukemia.(3).

2)  Cow’s Milk and dairy products - are the highest source of saturated fat  in children’s diets.  In addition, they provide cholesterol and have shown to increase production of hormones that can fuel certain types of cancers.  Strawberry and chocolate flavored milks contain more sugar than a soft drink.           Approximately, 1/3 of American children are lactose intolerant or allergic to milk.  The commodities program does not include non-dairy, calcium rich milks (which are also cholesterol free), and due to the increased price for schools,  are not offered as alternatives.

3)   A Lack of Fiber & Antioxidants - Fiber helps eliminate carcinogens, lower cholesterol, maintain a healthy body weight and regulate blood sugar.  Antioxidants strengthen the immune system and fight disease.  These are found in plant foods, like vegetables, fruits, beans and grains.  While processed breads are plant foods, they are very low in fiber.  The NSLP program, primarily made of animal products and processed grains, does not meet fiber requirements for children.

4)   A Lack of Healthy Options - Students who choose to be healthy are left with few options.  If meat is the only protein offered in the lunch line, the student is forced to go without.  If beans or tofu were offered, the student would benefit from protein, fiber, calcium and iron.

The Healthy School Meals Act (H.R. 4870) is in Congress right now and proposes much needed changes to the NSLP.  Visit www.HealthySchoolLunches.org for resources for parents, schools and concerned community members.  Read more about recommend changes, schools that are making a difference and ways to get involved and talk to your congressmen.  Also,  you  can follow a teacher who ate school lunch for a year at fedupwithschoollunch.blogspot.com.

References:

1. Too Fat to Fight Report - by Retired Military Leaders

2. ww.HealthySchoolLunches.org

3. PCRM Leukemia Factsheet