SCHOOLS SHOULD NOT BE IN THE JUNK FOOD BUSINESS (1-2004)


What if Indiana didn’t have a law against drunk driving at all, because legislators placed all the emphasis on educating drivers about the dangers of driving while drunk in hopes that this would alleviate the problem?



Some critics of a bill that would require schools to provide daily physical activity and healthy snacks would rather take the above approach to fighting childhood obesity. They believe the childhood obesity epidemic can be cured with education alone.



Educating the public about appropriate lifestyle choices is fine, and in fact, should always be included in any program designed to enhance public safety. But sometimes legislation is needed to force compliance by those who ignore their education.



For example, a strong advertising campaign purchased with money obtained from the tobacco settlement has helped to reduce teen smoking in Indiana. But that doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be a law against the purchase of tobacco by minors. Smoking by youths is so dangerous and addictive that education campaigns must be backed up by appropriate legislation.



The same theory holds for other deleterious lifestyle choices made by Indiana’s youth. It is important, for example, for children and their parents to be educated on proper eating habits and on getting enough physical activity. But legislation requiring schools to serve only healthy snacks and to provide students with adequate time for physical activities would go a long way in addressing the growing problem of childhood obesity.



There is a bill, introduced by Rep. Charlie Brown, that would require schools to provide daily physical activity for students in kindergarten through the eighth grade. More importantly, it would prohibit schools from selling junk food during certain hours. And it would mandate that vending machines be at least half filled with healthful snacks.



The bill has come under attack by some education officials and lobbyists who say its programs would cost too much and that it ignores the role of parents in educating their youngsters about lifestyle choices. Others say that taking away junk food doesn’t promote options.



But maybe kids shouldn’t have the option of purchasing junk food at school.



Educating both parents and their children about the necessity of physical activity and the importance of eating healthy foods is important. But schools are in the education business. The school would be an obvious venue for providing students with the education they need to make healthy lifestyle choices.



Not only that, since they have custody of their students for seven hours a day, it would make sense for them to provide the means for students to engage in needed physical activity. They should also teach by example, by serving only foods that are healthy and nutritious. 



Ironically, many schools offer health classes that teach a chapter or two on proper nutrition, then turn around and sell the students Twinkies, candy bars, and soft drinks from their vending machines. In addition, school cafeterias often serve trans-fat-laden, high carbohydrate French fries on a daily basis. French fries are not a vegetable in the nutritional sense of the word.



Mike Leppert, Indiana manager for the Coalition for a Healthy and Active America, has said he would rather see young people learn what’s good for them instead of having schools force it on them. But what better way for schools to teach good eating habits than by offering only healthy food choices, even in their vending machines?



The bill, as it stands now, would still provide for junk food to be served in vending machines and cafeterias. It has been criticized for going too far in its mandates. In fact, it doesn’t go far enough. 



Schools should be prohibited by law from selling any kind of junk food by any means and at any time. Cafeterias should offer French fries no more often than once per week, and only then if a green vegetable is served as well.



Some say that mandating daily physical activity would cost too much because it would require additional gym space and teachers. That’s not necessarily true. In elementary school, time could be allocated so that each teacher could, on a rotating basis, take their classes outside or to the gym for 20 minutes or so of physical activity.



And schools must implement the nutritional requirements adequately. Apple juice, for example, is not a healthy substitute for cola drinks. Both are loaded with sugar and empty calories.



If properly written and implemented, though, a law like the one proposed by Brown would provide students with better education on choosing a healthy lifestyle, and it would do so by setting the best examples. In addition, it could be done with only minimal added expense