Is it only me who realizes the extreme hypocrisy of public figures who antagonize teenagers about being overweight yet provide us with lunch menus at school that include fried foods and fattening desserts? I mean, I'm a college student and I was expecting a lot more than what I am currently getting. The only "healthy" foods they offer at my college include:
- Sandwiches which, after continuous consumption, get extremely bland.
- "Home-cooked" meals which usually are accompanied with a nice serving of bone-dry meat.
- Aood from the "Exhibition line" which only serves a good healthy meal maybe once a week.
- Pasta, although this could be considered fattening (high amount of starch).
- And omelets...but who wants to eat an omelet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner?
Thus, the only alternative for college students is to eat hamburgers --which arguably contain no meat-- and pizza, both of which are extremely high in calories and carbs.
So we're stuck in a hole: We don't want our teenagers to be obese, but the only tolerable food we offer happens to be fattening. Is this only and issue at my college? I don't know that it is, because from what I have heard from my friends at other schools, this is a consistent trend. I'm being charged 1200 dollars for my meal plan...I'm sure the school could have come up with some better tasting, healthier menus than the ones they currently offer. And if not? Maybe they should consider charging just a little more to provide the quality food we need to have a healthy diet. What do you all think?
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First, I've never been to a school that offered "bad foods" - every lunch menu I can remember was generally a healthy one and was definitely well-rounded. :) Even my high school had a salad bar...
But, what I also remember is that the lunches were that way not because of the schools, but because of the parents. Our parents didn't just shove us off to school and then try to blame the school for every little problem that came up, and certainly didn't pass off what should be their responsibility and try to make it the school's responsibility (such as prayer). You want your teenager to be healthy - teach him or her how to eat right - don't leave it up to the school - that's lazy and unreliable. If the school has nothing good to eat, hold a PTA meeting and get it taken care of. If you don't want to do these things, fine - but don't blame the schools for your lack of effort and responsibility.
As far as college students, again, if the parents taught their children how to eat right, then no matter what they offer you should be able to find something - or save the $1200 and buy food somewhere else. I don't know where you live or which school you are in, but I'm betting that your college is not the one and only source of food around you. If it's a matter of traveling to this other food, there are channels you can go through within most any college to have your voice heard - and you'll probably find like-minded people willing to help you get the menus changed. But, more than likely, you and/or other students will have to make the first step.
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"Dream as though you'll live forever, but live as though there's no tomorrow" --James Dean
http://www.progressiveu.org/user/fanaile-drupal-org
That's true, but we've already made petitions demanding better quality, healthier food. And when you're a college student, money is tight...so driving to a local restaurant every day for lunch and dinner, or buying food at the grocery store (which would be a hassle to cook since my dorm has no kitchen except on the first floor) isn't necessarily in my best interest, especially when I've already signed a contract for my meal plan (which lasts the entire school year).
I'm currently at the University of Texas - Arlington and I will be transferring to the University of Texas - Austin. I've already been there and seen the food they offer, which is of much higher quality than when I'm currently being "fed." So hopefully UTA will listen to our opinions, and if not...I'll be at UT next year anyways.
Micah B.
Really, the food there is that bad? That surprises me. UTEP has awesome food - I just assumed that it was a University of Texas thing - but maybe it is just an El Paso thing?
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"Dream as though you'll live forever, but live as though there's no tomorrow" --James Dean
http://www.progressiveu.org/user/fanaile-drupal-org
America has become so overweight (of course, this is an generalization) but often refuses to focus on the cause. Obesity can be prevented simply by promoting healthy habits in the cafeteria. Honestly, most students at my high school would eat whatever was put in front of them, especially if it was the only option. Nutritional selections should at least be one option.