Parents, are you concerned with health problem in the schools?

The food they surve is junk, but kids could take a lunch like a whole wheat sandwich made with low fat meat and piece of fruit or there are 100 calorie snack packs of all kinds of chips and cookies and instead of soda take juice, tea or water. So why do kids still eat the junk food they do at school? Why don't parents take a stand against rise of childhood diabetes and obesity ?

I'm a high school student, and I know you are requesting parents answers, but as a student IN the school itself, I feel like I still know what I'm talking about. I've noticed that the amount of junk food kids eat at school drastically decreases in late middle school/high school. Elementary School students are usually the ones who eat alot of the junk food served at lunch.

I RARELY buy my lunch, I have only maybe 5 times this year. And I always just get water and a bagel and cream cheese anyways, but I definetly agree with your choices for a packable lunch. I always have a wheat sandwhich, never nasty white bread like Wonder or something, and fruit (apple, banana), crackers (wheat thins?) and maybe a granola bar of some sort or a 100 calorie pack. Kids are kids. And if there is carrot sticks or cookies they will always take the cookies, there is no question about that. Health food administrators and people in that field can push health food on kids as much as they want, but the fact is is that it really isn't working because they are still serving cookies, cakes, and processed junk food. Alot of the "healthy" food cafeterias have begun serving really aren't as healthy as they look or seem. If salads are being served, they will provide an array of various dressings high in fat and sugar and croutons that kids will eat as snacks, thinking they are actually eating salad.

Parents have been making a stand against diabetes and obesity, but parents aren't there at school regulating what the child eats. And teachers and assistants aren't going to accupy the child when he/she eats and tell them what they should eat and what they shouldn't. And chances are that if a parent packed a child a healthy lunch without junk food, the kid would share junk food with another kid whose parents were still packing them junk food. Or the kid would bring his own money and buy ice cream, etc.

Telling a child the harms of junk food may not always be enough to make him/her make the right choice when it comes to choosing the food he/she will eat. Since it really is up to them at the school since no parents are around, they have to learn the effects of junk food on the body. They can't just be told it's unhealthy or dangerous, they won't understand that. In my opinion, schools should host a mandatory class during the school day teaching kids the effect junk food has on the body. They need to make it interesting, with videos and coloring, etc. Possibly a video showing what can happen when cholesterol, etc. blocks the ateries and blood flow to the heart. The specific effects and what they look like will give the kid a better idea of the situation so when he chooses between something healthy and something junky. It's not enough to just SAY it, you have to SHOW It.

I hope I helped!

I know this question is directed at parents, but I'm a student and observe the daily lunchroom activities..

Many people at my school complain that "cafeteria food" is gross and not even that good, yet the majority of students stand in the long lines and pile the food on their trays. They even offer a double lunch where you get 2 servings of the main course for an extra price.

I have never been a fan of cafeteria food, so I bring my own healthy lunch. My school district just set up some online program where parents can monitor what their children purchase at lunch, so maybe this will help some children/parents?