Healthier Kids: School Programs Improve Eating Patterns Children's ...

From Syracuse.com

It?s almost time for kids to go back to school. But for many children in Syracuse, this means a return to terribly unhealthy school lunches ? fried chicken, pizza pockets, corn dogs and desserts loaded with high fructose corn syrup ? that jeopardize the health and well-being of America?s next generation.

Unfortunately, Syracuse gets a bad grade for childhood obesity and malnutrition. In New York, 10 to 15 percent of low-income children ages 2 to 4 are obese. In Syracuse and Western New York the range is higher, from 15 to 20 percent. It is unlikely that an overweight child will slim down by the time he or she reaches adulthood ? 80 percent of children who are obese between the ages of 10 and 15 remain obese at age 25. Children who eat poorly are at greater risk of developing osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes and liver problems later in life.

Fortunately, schools can play a key role to reverse this trend and reinforce healthy eating behaviors. By emphasizing hands-on nutrition education, such as school garden projects and classroom cooking demonstrations, and by providing fresh, local fruits and vegetables in cafeterias, schools can encourage students to improve their diets.

Several school districts in New York, the Syracuse City School District among them, are joining the national Farm to School movement, which connects schools to local farms with the purpose of serving healthy, organic meals in cafeterias. Kids benefit from the fresh, nutritious and tasty food, and the state economy benefits from expanding local food networks. By increasing the demand for agricultural products grown directly for human consumption, the Farm to School initiative has the potential to create billions in food sales that would benefit not only students, but also New York farmers, businesses and consumers.

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Source: http://www.lensaunders.com/wp/?p=2921

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