School Lunches, a National Security Threat

[The Drunk Girl]

WASHINGTON - School lunches (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36664612/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition/#) have been called many things, but a group of retired military officers is giving them a new label: national security threat.That's not a reference to the mystery meat served up in the cafeteria line either. The retired officers are saying that school lunches have helped make the nation's young people so fat that fewer of them can meet the military's physical fitness standards, and recruitment is in jeopardy.


A new report being released Tuesday says more than 9 million young adults, or 27 percent of all Americans ages 17 to 24, are too overweight to join the military. Now, the officers are advocating for passage of a wide-ranging nutrition bill that aims to make the nation's school lunches healthier.

Source (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36664612/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition/)

Mission: Readiness (http://www.missionreadiness.org/)

I have to say I agree with having healthier school lunches, but not entirely for it being a national security threat.

In my opinion, if the schools provided food that didn't taste like absolute, pure shit along with getting rid of vending/pop machines that would be a good start.

In middle school we had a pop and a juice machine. Both machines had a timer of some sort on them and only would "unlock" after school hours or the one Friday a month we were allowed to have a 30 minute break as a reward.

Once I reached high school, there were two pop machines (two more were added later on) and a school store that was run by DECA. The school store was only open for "food" items during the school's 10 minute break between 3rd and 4th periods.

I found myself guilty of using the school store because A) the cafeteria food usually tasted like shit and B) when there was something "decent" to eat the line was backed up so far that by the time I got my tray I had less than five minutes to eat. So instead, I would take my two bucks a day for lunch and wait until break when I could get a pop, a bag of chips, and a candy bar. Not the greatest diet I know, but I had to eat (and I wasn't the only student that did this).

Today's youth and young adults are significantly overweight and something does need to be done about it. The healthy habits need to begin at a younger age and it is going to take more than just the school's to fix it.

[Americano]

There's no excuse for schools at any level providing students with sugar loaded drinks and snack foods.

[Michael]

Source (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36664612/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition/)

Mission: Readiness (http://www.missionreadiness.org/)

I have to say I agree with having healthier school lunches, but not entirely for it being a national security threat.
Everything that I've read on the topic of obesity in the USA says it is a socio-economic issue that overwhelmingly affects the lower half the economic strata.

And that does make this issue a national security issue since that economic strata provides somewhere around 99% of US [enlisted] military personel.

Actually, I've seen data that suggests the overwhelming majority of [enlisted] recruits to the US military are coming from the bottom 25%, so the childhood obesity issue really can and will affect military recruiting goals.

As for the issue of obesity and school lunches, I respectfully submit that food intake is only half the issue and that physical exercise is the other half. And studies have shown that the trend towards obsesity co-relates closely to a massive reduction in physical activities (children and adults).

Certainly eliminating the billions of dollars in tax subsidies for HFCS and other unhealthy foods would be a good start, but addressing the 'food' issue alone will not solve this social problem.

One would be far better off to introduce mandatory daily callesthenics at schools (k-12). That would likely be the best public policy response at the lowest cost.

[Americano]

Everything that I've read on the topic of obesity in the USA says it is a socio-economic issue that overwhelmingly affects the lower half the economic strata.

And that does make this issue a national security issue since that economic strata provides somewhere around 99% of US [enlisted] military personel.

Actually, I've seen data that suggests the overwhelming majority of [enlisted] recruits to the US military are coming from the bottom 25%, so the childhood obesity issue really can and will affect military recruiting goals.

As for the issue of obesity and school lunches, I respectfully submit that food intake is only half the issue and that physical exercise is the other half. And studies have shown that the trend towards obsesity co-relates closely to a massive reduction in physical activities (children and adults).

Certainly eliminating the billions of dollars in tax subsidies for HFCS and other unhealthy foods would be a good start, but addressing the 'food' issue alone will not solve this social problem.

One would be far better off to introduce mandatory daily callesthenics at schools (k-12). That would likely be the best public policy response at the lowest cost.

Amazingly enough, a daily physical education class was formerly a US K12 requirement. It took a physician's letter to avoid it. You can bet shower and dressing room facilities are still in place at most K12 schools to support team sport activities.

[Donkey]

I don't really give a shit about the recruitment aspect, but anything that draws attention to this expanding (pun intended) problem is, in my view, a good thing.

Give 'em some rice and beans for christ's sake.

[Michael]

I don't really give a shit about the recruitment aspect, but anything that draws attention to this expanding (pun intended) problem is, in my view, a good thing.

Give 'em some rice and beans for christ's sake.

THe military issue gives the government a rational and legitimate justification for engaging in this type of program.

Without that, just the fact that kids are fat is not sufficient cause for a public policy response. It is not the government's responsibility to address what you choose to eat (or choose not to exercise). It is your right to go to an early grave and that's none of the government's business.

On its own, the government has no business interferring with American diets.

[Donkey]

THe military issue gives the government a rational and legitimate justification for engaging in this type of program.

Without that, just the fact that kids are fat is not sufficient cause for a public policy response. It is not the government's responsibility to address what you choose to eat (or choose not to exercise). It is your right to go to an early grave and that's none of the government's business.

On its own, the government has no business interferring with American diets.
Diets, no, but I think the government is entirely within its authority to regulate the food industry.

[Michael]

Diets, no, but I think the government is entirely within its authority to regulate the food industry.
Strictly for public safety reasons alone.

Anything more than that and you are playing social engineering games and I don't accept that as a valid purpose of government.

[Michael]

Btw, Canada does not have a 'school lunch' program. I'd never heard of this until I studied US politics.

I'd be more curious about research/studies that look into why these programs exist in the first place. Seems like this kind of policy is just more institutionalization of poverty to me.

I don't like public programs that treat 'symptoms' of problems. That's as fool's game that is very expensive and never ending.

[Donkey]

Btw, Canada does not have a 'school lunch' program. I'd never heard of this until I studied US politics.

I'd be more curious about research/studies that look into why these programs exist in the first place. Seems like this kind of policy is just more institutionalization of poverty to me.

I don't like public programs that treat 'symptoms' of problems. That's as fool's game that is very expensive and never ending.

It's hard to learn when you're hungry, I guess.

[Michael]

It's hard to learn when you're hungry, I guess.

And if you give them food, they just come back tomorrow hungry again.

The game never ends. It just rewards bad parents with a tax subsidy.

[Donkey]

And if you give them food, they just come back tomorrow hungry again.

The game never ends. It just rewards bad parents with a tax subsidy.
It may be "rewarding" the parents, but the alternative doesn't punish the parent, it punishes the child.

[Michael]

It may be "rewarding" the parents, but the alternative doesn't punish the parent, it punishes the child.

The "alternative" isn't necessarily eliminating all such programs.

I'm a policy wonk. I like to see good programs address real problems. I don't like to see money thrown around to meliorate symptoms of larger problems. That just creates a money sinkhole that is impossible to sustain in the long run as the cost/demand for the program is unlimited and permanent.

Wouldn't surprise me one bit to find out that the US school lunch program was initiated and pushed by Big-Ag as just another subsidy for themselves.

[Donkey]

The "alternative" isn't necessarily eliminating all such programs.

I'm a policy wonk. I like to see good programs address real problems. I don't like to see money thrown around to meliorate symptoms of larger problems. That just creates a money sinkhole that is impossible to sustain in the long run as the cost/demand for the program is unlimited and permanent.

Wouldn't surprise me one bit to find out that the US school lunch program was initiated and pushed by Big-Ag as just another subsidy for themselves.
Fair enough. I'm all for renovating poorly implemented programs.

[The Drunk Girl]

One would be far better off to introduce mandatory daily callesthenics at schools (k-12). That would likely be the best public policy response at the lowest cost.

The schools I attended, calisthenics were apart of the school curriculum from elementary-middle school. Once we reached high school, it was implemented for the first couple of weeks and then it was independent. We would get a 15-20 minute "teaching" on a particular thing and then the other hour was left to whatever we chose. I happened to get pretty good a ping-pong this way ;)

Most of the athletes would play basketball if we were indoors, or if we were outdoors we would continue playing flag football or lacrosse (fun sport, but I never had enough time to "master" the whole catching the ball in the net attached to the stick deal---I really did disappoint myself with that :lol:)

Gym was a joke in high school. It was an easy "A" and was taught by the varsity soccer coach (who was a sexist motherfucking pig and when I beat him at ping pong, he threw the biggest hissy fit ever!) or the varsity football coach depending on your grade level.

It was mandatory freshman year and after that it was considered an elective. I took it for two reasons: it was an easy "A" and I enjoyed athletics regardless if it was mandatory or not...I was going to participate. Not everyone was like that. There were plenty of "bleacher flowers."

[The Drunk Girl]

Btw, Canada does not have a 'school lunch' program. I'd never heard of this until I studied US politics.

I'd be more curious about research/studies that look into why these programs exist in the first place. Seems like this kind of policy is just more institutionalization of poverty to me.

I don't like public programs that treat 'symptoms' of problems. That's as fool's game that is very expensive and never ending.

What do you mean by "school lunch" programs? Are you referring to programs like reduced-lunches?

[Michael]

What do you mean by "school lunch" programs? Are you referring to programs like reduced-lunches?

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to children each school day. The program was established under the National School Lunch Act, signed by President Harry Truman in 1946.

National School Lunch Program (http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/lunch/)

Its a fairly big program and its been around a long time.

[JHC]

How about no school lunches? It's a thought. If folks are worried about the poor kids not being able to concentrate because their stomachs are rumbling, then have social services deliver food to the poor student's home.
It's a strange thing we do here. If a family is poor, they can get government assistance. Specifically, Temporary Assistance For Needy Families, food stamps, tax relief, transportation assistance, etc...
We pay for this. For some of us (me), we pay it willingly.
But why are we paying for food for all students in public school? Really? Public school can provide food better than parents?
Part of the issue, in my opinion, is that people are disconnected from food. Where do Pop-tarts come from?
Why are we paying for sports or PE?

[Donkey]

From the pop tart farm?

[JHC]

From the pop tart farm?

Oh. I guess thats an Ohio crop huh? :shrug:

[Donkey]

Oh. I guess thats an Ohio crop huh? :shrug:
It's how we employ the Amish and the Mexicans.

[JHC]

It's how we employ the Amish and the Mexicans.

Amish? You have AMISH?!!! Call the border patrol!

[Michael]

It's how we employ the Amish and the Mexicans.
We have lots of Amish and Mennonites (not sure if they are same/different) in southwest Ontario (farm country).

[Michael]

More police, fire recruits flunk fitness test

JACKSON, Miss. — When the Jackson Police Department tried to recruit new officers this spring, more than a third of the applicants were not able to pass the initial physical fitness test.

The city's police academy's initial fitness exam includes push-ups, a 1½ mile run, an obstacle course and a flexibility test, Deputy Police Chief Gerald Jones said.

Mississippi has the highest rate of obesity in the nation, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But Jones said it is not just that recruits are fat.

"What we are finding is a decline in overall physical strength," he said. "They can't complete the mile-and-a-half run."

Overweight and out of shape recruits for police, fire and emergency medical services are presenting increasing problems for agencies around the nation.

Source (http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2010-05-09-obese-recruits_N.htm)

Just more evidence of the same problem.

[Americano]

Source (http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2010-05-09-obese-recruits_N.htm)

Just more evidence of the same problem.

Amazing how many women and children immigrate into the US by crossing a ruthless desert on foot and a third of would-be Mississippi cops can't even run 1.5 miles.

[Michael]

Amazing how many women and children immigrate into the US by crossing a ruthless desert on foot and a third of would-be Mississippi cops can't even run 1.5 miles.

I'm reminded of a "letter to the editor" that was printed in one of our local newspapers last August. It was written by a 13 year old boy. He was suggesting that in order to make 'back to school shopping' easier on the kids, that parents should drop the kids off at the doors to the mall instead of having to walk all the way from the parking lot to the mall - this way the kids wouldn't be all tired out before they even started shopping. :eek:

It was priceless! :lol:

[Americano]

I'm reminded of a "letter to the editor" that was printed in one of our local newspapers last August. It was written by a 13 year old boy. He was suggesting that in order to make 'back to school shopping' easier on the kids, that parents should drop the kids off at the doors to the mall instead of having to walk all the way from the parking lot to the mall - this way the kids wouldn't be all tired out before they even started shopping. :eek:

It was priceless! :lol:

That is a gem. I see so many fat kids (and adults) of all ages I can't help but wonder what's going to happen when their joints begin to wear out early from carrying all that excess weight. If their hearts and arteries last that long.