During the years that I was in school, cafeteria choices were far from ideal. You had your fries with gravy, fries with ketchup, fries with mayo, poutine and pizza slices, and the soft drink vending machine not two feet away. The closest thing to a leafy green in sight were the wilted strands of questionable lettuce on the pre-packaged, shrink-wrapped tuna and egg-salad sandwiches.
Much has changed over the past decade in light of the outcry against childhood obesity and diabetes: no more pop machines in schools, salad bars now installed in the lunch line-up, more fresh fruit and veggie options etc. Now, according to an article in The Globe and Mail there's been a push in several provinces to take nutrition in schools to the next level.
According to the article, Canada is the only G8 country without a national food program for it's schools — an oversight that critics weigh heavily, though the federal government insists that it falls under provincial/territorial jurisdiction. However, entrepreneurial initiatives in British Columbia and Ontario are connecting locally-sourced food and farming to the hungry mouths and growing minds of students.
With scientific studies linking healthy eating to improved educational performance, should government take a stronger lead on ensuring national access to healthy, sustainable options in our classrooms? Tell us your thoughts.
Read the full article here: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/school-food-programs-lack-unifying-vision/article2198059/