School Lunches

Dear National School Lunch Program,

I hope this letter finds you to be doing well. I am writing this letter in regards to health concerns in school lunches. After observing several schools I have noticed that hot lunch is not the hottest option in school. Our school system is promoting healthy living but not providing it to those who rely on the school lunch system.

After attending multiple schools I have seen the diminishing options of food that the school provides. School lunches are not nutritious for others to eat. The school may be perceived as healthy but the students are provided with greasy pizza, chicken, tater tots, old fruits, and occasionally a little salad. The problem here is that junk food is the majority of the plate. The food is not only unhealthy but is not edible for those who have problems with gluten or that are dieting. There is also a lack of flavor which causes many students not to eat during the school day. The last problem is the school lunches have bland flavoring and are sore to the eye.

School lunches make a bigger impact than we think. It has been proven that eating healthier food will help students learn and memorize more. They can also improve their concentration in class if they are provided with vitamin and minerals. There have also been multiple experiments to see the different behaviors of those who eat unhealthy to those eating healthy, the healthier the food the fewer problems the school had with behavior. Another great reason to give students healthy food is that it will improve their overall health and help them build great habits for the future.

The real task now is getting rid of the bad options we have now and finding healthier alternatives. One thing that is already provided in hot lunch is salad so we can expand that and give the students bigger portions, in fact, we can incorporate a salad bar into the lunchroom. Another way we can allow kids to eat healthy well keeping a low budget is soup. We can also provide students with fruits and vegetables. Now we have to capture the kid's attention and make them want to eat it. We have to focus on the presentation of the food. I am not saying put it on a golden plate but the food should look lively. A lot of food served is stored in a freezer for weeks. There are tons of local farmers everywhere that can provide healthy lively plants to the school. Now that we got healthy food we are halfway there, now we need it to taste good too. We can roast the vegetables, blend spices, and not over seasoning the sauces. There are tons of ways to find healthier alternatives well still staying well below the schools budget.

School lunches are not only destroying kids health but it also is affecting their academics. Today is the day we can start changing school lunches for the better. There are tons of healthier alternatives out there we just have to go out and find them. You will not just be changing kids lunches but you will change their life. They will be able to accomplish so much more physically and mentally. This small change will change American society forever.