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Partly Cloudy Getting acquainted with healthier foods
Changes in the food offering at Hewlett High School, though healthier, have displeased students.
First Lady Michelle Obama began the Let’s Move! campaign in 2010, she has been partnered with the School Nutrition Association to stop childhood obesity, it has had an impact on public schools across the nation.
The Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act has restricted what foods public schools are allowed to promote and sell in order to guarantee students are eating healthy. There are specific calorie limits for products and lunch meals. Schools also cannot promote any unhealthy items or brands on school property.
A few changes have occurred at Hewlett High. Students are allowed off-campus during free periods, but many still use the cafeteria for lunch at $2.70 and/or snacks. Some noticeable changes include swapping white breads with whole grains, smaller portioned snacks, and a few missing items. A package of Pop Tarts that cost $1 last year included two treats at around 400 calories a package, while a $1 package this year includes one Pop Tart for about 200 calories.
When in elementary school, I frequently bought lunch and relied on the school’s simple lunch calendar. The sheet was typically a solid color with an occasional black and white graphic for a holiday in a corner. The lunch calendar has changed over the years. Many high school students may not be aware of this calendar that is color-coded and available online for each month of the school year. It features the food and special lunch of each day, and a few images with nutritional tips.
The Free Kids Act also has had an impact on fundraising for the school’s clubs as bake sales that included cookies, cupcakes and brownies are not permitted during the school day and 30 minutes after the school day ends. The restriction doesn’t extend to weekends of holidays.
Students on average are not happy with the changes in the school’s food offerings as they are left wondering why they cannot purchase a bagel on campus, when, fortunately, Hewlett High School’s student population does not match the nation’s one in every three children childhood obesity rate.
The school district is required by federal law to follow the new restrictions to receive the government funds to cover the subsidized and reduced-price lunches for families in need.
Whether it is making students in Hewlett healthier or not is unclear, but Michelle Obama’s dream of healthier youths is appreciated. With a great future ahead of them, it should be OK for young people to eat the right vitamins and minerals, for once.
