Vegetarian (And School!) Friendly Meals
According to StateOfObesity.org, nearly one third of United States’ children, aged 10 to 17, are overweight or obese (State of Obesity, 2016). That’s 1 in 3 children that will potentially suffer complications caused from obesity, such as type 2 diabetes, liver failure, or respiratory problems (World Obesity Federation, n.d.).
With childhood obesity on the rise, it’s urgent we begin assessing where to start solving this problem.
Why Vegetarian?
Vegetarian is defined as one who does not eat meat, fish, chicken, or meat products. Individuals can also choose to eliminate eggs, dairy, and other animal products. Eliminating meat from the diet has become increasingly popular over the past decade. Charles Stahler, Co-Director of The Vegetarian Resource Group, calculates there are nearly 4.7 million adult vegetarians in the United States (Stahler, 2006). That’s about 1 out of every 75 U.S. adults.
Going meatless not only serves moral purpose, but studies have found vegetarianism can be highly beneficial. Those who avoid animal eating meat commonly consume less saturated fats and cholesterol and adolescents are less affected by acne, allergies, and gastro-intestinal disorders. An appropriately planned vegetarian diet can reduce risk of chronic disease and prevent obesity (Anton-Paduraru, 2014).
Meat-free meals in school systems could be the solution to widespread childhood obesity, however, it is crucial we take action and demand meat-free options in districts. It is my purpose to encourage you to demand vegetarian meals in your schools.
At the age of ten, I made the personal decision to eliminate meat products from my diet and have experienced firsthand many benefits. Weight management transitioning into my adult body was relatively easy and I rarely suffered breakouts my friends had during adolescence. I became an advocate for vegetarianism and proudly supported my stance, however, high school posed a major dietary hurdle.
My parents, both successful business estimators, left for work long before my sister and I were ready for school. Lunch money was always waiting on the counter and we were free to choose whatever our hearts desired.
The lunch line was intimidating for a vegetarian child. At the time, the school offered no vegetarian alternatives. I was easily swayed from the awful butter doused mixed vegetables and instead indulged daily on a la carte items, like Lays Potato Chips and M&M Ice Cream Sandwiches, located conveniently next to the cashier. They were readily available and oh-so tempting. I didn’t even have to wait in the lunch line!
Fast-forward, I’m a 22 year old nutrition student and advocate for eating a well planned meat-free diet. Over the past 4 years, I’ve immersed myself in the world of eating green and find that vegetarian meals are delicious, fulfilling, and nutrient packed. Eating healthy is empowering!
Looking back on the journey to eating nutritionally, I pondered why our school even pretended they were providing nutritionally sound meal options? Students, teachers, and faculty all too often fall victim to the desire to purchase junk food and administration chooses to turn a blind eye the hypocrisy. But, with little diversity and education about food, can you really blame us?
We Need You!
It’s our duty as friends, family members, parents, and community members to urge local school districts to educate our future generations on the importance of nutrition during childhood and adult life. Promoting healthful vegetarian options in schools could potentially prevent and solve childhood obesity, but first, we must come together as a community to implement steps towards a solution.
Local school districts need to provide valuable vegetarian meal options, implement a closed campus policy, and engage students and community members about the impact of healthy eating. To achieve this, we must understand the implications of this problem in schools, establish a solution, and visualize how these changes to school systems will benefit our children.
The Undermining of Meat-free Meals
Advocates for cafeteria revolution, like Michelle Obama, have implemented stricter lunchroom policies and nutritional standards. Portion sizes are decreasing and the nutrition value of what’s on the plate is increasing. Steps taken by federal government are paving the way for healthy eating behaviors, but the question remains; Are local schools providing adequate meal options for the student body?
Kevin Reidy, Principle of Hillsdale High School, agrees, “Nutrition is an important lifelong skill.” During his 12 years at Hillsdale, Reidy has promoted healthy eating through Health and Family Consumer Science curriculums and stresses proper nutrition is important to care for one’s body (Reidy, 2017). But how does Hillsdale High School accommodate for the increasing vegetarian population in their district? The school offers salads as a daily meat-free option, however, this meal is often unfit to accommodate the needs of a vegetarian student. These salads are composed of Iceburg lettuce, cheese, croutons, and dressing packages and offer little nutritional value. They are bland, boring, and are countering the nutrition lessons the school is trying to communicate through curriculum. If school lessons are encouraging children to engage in eating diverse and healthy meals, why are they not being offered?
Local districts, like Hillsdale High School, have the unique opportunity to turn lunchrooms into classrooms and provide good examples of nutritionally sound meals. By increasing the appeal and availability of healthy choices, schools can affect student eating behaviors.
Katherine Bevans conducted a study on the impact of availability of healthier food options in the lunchroom. Students were more likely to choose healthier foods when more readily available. However, her research revealed the positive effects of the increased availability were undermined by the purchasing a la carte items. Kids who primarily purchased the school lunch menu saw significant difference in healthier eating behaviors, but, children who more commonly purchased a la carte items did not. (Bevans, 2011). This is frightening! Bevans’s study shows schools can have positive influence on students’ eating behavior and promote healthier diets, like vegetarianism, however they choose to undermine this success by allowing corporate companies to sell products to students.
Can The Cafeteria!
Local districts seem to have good intentions of educating their students about the importance of nutrition, however, it’s obvious they are missing the mark. Not promoting and providing healthy meal options for sake of convenience and familiarity has stolen the opportunity to introduce students to the healthier options schools aim to educate about. Undermining a la carte items have also decreased the ability to engage students about what they’re putting on their plate.
Students want to have a voice in what they eat and chips and soda just don’t cut it. It’s time for local schools to lose the lunchroom and redefine nutrition education. It’s crucial we educate and advocate for the health of younger generations and doing so is feasible and realistic. By demanding local schools promote diverse vegetarian options, instill a closed campus policy, and engage student body and community members, we can begin to solve this problem.
So who’s in?
Sad Looking Salads
Demanding diverse options creates opportunity to engage and educate students about nutrient dense foods. Hillsdale High School provides salads to students composed of plain iceberg lettuce, cheese, croutons, and dressing. The Cleveland Clinic advised that these salads are not highly because they are few in nutrients and high in fats, sugar, and sodium.
A salad that is fresh, crunchy, and colorful is promoting nutrition and appealing to kids. Ideally, a lunchroom salad could be composed of dark leafy greens, walnuts or almonds, pomegranate seeds, and low fat feta cheese topping with a naturally sweetened hazelnut dressing. This provides a mealtime option that is high in vitamins A, C, and D, calcium, folic acid, and antioxidants (Cleveland Clinic, 2017). Salads are just one example of the vegetarian options schools could provide to students. Vegetarian recipes and alternatives are rapidly expanding and the opportunity to expand these meal time options is vast.
Many may argue, what’s wrong with the meals being provided now? Why do we need to include more vegetarian options when many of the kids in our district eat meat? Why can’t kids with special dietary needs just bring lunch for home? These viewpoints are valid and relevant!
Schools provide meals that meet federal nutrition standards, however, personal investigation of local cafeteria menus leads me to believe the district is meeting minimal requirements and cutting corners. Pizza Fridays and Smothered Steaks may be cost efficient fan favorites, but they are often high in sodium, fats, and cholesterol. According to MyFitnessPal.com, a school lunch pizza contains 6 grams of saturated fat, 30 milligrams of cholesterol, 846 milligrams of sodium (MyFitnessPal, 2017). That’s over half of an adolescent’s recommended daily sodium intake!
This solution does not aim to abolish the regular menu items, but instead to offer another healthier option that school administration can be proud of and recommend to students. The importance of providing meat-free meals is because they are lower in sodium, fats, and cholesterol and by providing an additional option, you promote healthier eating behavior among both vegetarian and non-vegetarian students. Giving kids an additional healthier option isn’t to benefit only the vegetarian students. It’s better for all students.
Attention! Corporation School Closings!
Instilling a closed campus policy is another important step in introducing more vegetarian meals to the cafeteria. By keeping kids on campus for lunch and eliminating the competition from corporate companies, schools regain control over what their students are eating. Detaching students from corporate influences, like Coke and Lays, encourages kids to explore new avenues during meal time.
Keeping kids on campus and eliminating a la carte items creates opportunity to turn the lunchroom into a classroom and educate about what’s for lunch. Students who have never considered a vegetarian options could be struck by curiosity and discover a healthy new lifestyle. Staff could make the lunch line fun by allowing students to taste test new menu items and offer insight on mealtime options. Give them the opportunity to voice their opinions and make nutritionally sound choices about what goes on their plate. By introducing new menu items and encouraging students to weigh in on what they eat, we provide students with a valuable role in the schools and with their personal health. Kids will feel empowered and take charge in considering more deeply about what’s on the menu.
Another important aspect of this solution is the involvement of faculty, staff, and community members. By getting involved, we show students that we care and want to see them succeed. Faculty and staff should be encouraged to eat meals with in the cafeteria and provide a good examples of healthy eating. Engaging the community to be active in the discussion through newsletters and Parent Teacher Administration meetings can produce more ideas and solutions to help support healthy lifestyle habits to. Implementing these ideas are simple and achievable in a school district highly dedicated to the nutritional well-being of their student body.
In Conclusion
To begin dissecting large epidemics, such as childhood obesity and overall public health, it’s important we begin where eating habits are highly enforceable, schools. We must ask ourselves if schools are offering enough vegetarian options and if they are truly encouraging the nutrition they so heavily educate about. It’s important that we demand vegetarian friendly meals and implication of a closed campus policy. It’s also important we engage students and community members to unite for the well-being of future generations.
I urge you to be active in your local schools. Attend public meetings, voice your opinion, and demand vegetarian meals offered in your school district. Explain the benefits of providing vegetarian options to the student body. Discuss the value of introducing nutritious meals to children. Don’t be afraid to call your local schools administration and voice concern. As friends, family, parents, and community members, it’s crucial we advocate for the health of future generations and lead the path for healthy eating behaviors.
Over and over we were told, “It all eventually catches up to you!” As we grow older, we look back and wish someone would have help us establish healthy eating habits earlier in life. If we advocate and fight for improved eating behavior now, we can give kids at the a fighting chance at defeating childhood obesity and maintaining the bodies we wish we still had.