Researchers Dr Colin Bell and Professor Boyd Swinburn wrote in the Australian Medical Journal in 2005 that "over the period of a year, children aged five to 15 years obtain only about 16 per cent of their total energy intake from food eaten at school, and probably less than three per cent comes from canteens."
However, "while the energy contribution is small, the symbolism is big", the researchers argued. "Canteen users consume significantly greater amounts of foods likely to promote unhealthy weight gain, such as fast foods, confectionery and packaged snacks."
In other words, while teachers may be passing on the healthy eating message in classrooms, canteens are sending out different signals. As the researchers put it, "the types of foods and beverages that predominate in school canteens not only undermine the health and nutrition curriculum, but also create the impression that foods and drinks that are high in fat, sugar and salt belong on the plate as 'everyday foods', rather than on the side as 'occasional foods'."
They said schools also sabotaged the healthy eating message by:
? rewarding children with sweets
? having soft-drink and confectionery vending machines
? holding sporting events with fast-food vouchers as prizes, and
? using chocolate drives for fundraising.
Other nutritional scientists have suggested schools introduce lower fat versions of popular foods, reduce the price of low-fat items, introduce more low-fat eating options and creatively market low-fat foods to students to bring down overall fat consumption.
There could be a lesson here for adults too. Think about what foods are likely to tempt you in the office canteen and compare them to what you might eat if you spent 10 minutes packing a healthy lunch at home.
If you pack lunches for your children, remember that fresh fruit and vegetables are quick to put in a lunchbox and will go a long way toward supplying the vitamins and minerals that growing bodies need. The Australian Federal Government recommends that children consume at least two serves of fruit and five of vegetables every day.
- Tim Pegler is the editor of www.fitness2live.com.au
References:
Bell AC, Swinburn BA (2005) School canteens: using ripples to create a wave of healthy eating. Med J Aust. 183(1):5-6.
Zive MM, Elder JP, Prochaska JJ, Conway TL, Pelletier RL, Marshall S, Sallis JF (2002) Sources of dietary fat in middle schools. Preventive Medicine 35: 376-382.
Related reading:
Fill Your Plate With Colour
Guidelines Aimed at Slim Waistlines
Time to Get Tough
Time for Lunchbox Police?
