One of the most memorable parts of my day in junior high and high school was lunchtime. It was the best part of the day, largely because it was a time to take a break from classes, talk to friends, and (of course) eat. At the time, I never questioned school lunches beyond the occasional "that looks gross" or "this tastes like plastic," but now that it isn't a regular part of my life anymore, I can acknowledge that the lunches in Parkersburg, West Virginia weren't very healthy.
The foods I recall being served to us most often are: hot dogs, cheeseburgers, french fries, onion rings, and most of all, pizza. I remember at least four distinct types of pizza that we were served regularly, one of which was a bagel-style pizza, for breakfast. We were also allowed to request "double" lunch. This option meant that if two different types of the main course were being served, we could have both--pizza and a cheeseburger, a hot dog and spaghetti, taco salad and chicken nuggets--in addition to side dishes. As a student, I thought that this was the best idea ever, but studies conducted since I left high school have changed my opinion drastically.
According to recent research conducted by the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center, students who eat school lunch are more likely to be overweight or obese. They are also "more than twice as likely to consume fatty meats and sugary drinks." The most drastic statistic shows that children who eat school meals consume far fewer fruits and vegetables than children who bring lunch from home (16.3% vs. 91.2%). These factors can cause higher levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. LDL, or "bad" cholesterol slowly builds up in arteries, combining with other material to form plaque, which eventually narrows the arteries, increasing risk of stroke- and heart-attack-inducing blockages.
Healthy food is significantly more expensive than processed food, so any changes in lunchrooms may take quite a while to come into effect. Until that time, students can benefit greatly from bringing meals to school that include nutritious food.
That's a very interesting research study that you link readers to. Has anything been done at the national level or the state level to encourage or perhaps even force schools to change the nutritional value of the meals they offer to students? The economics of school lunches are particularly disappointing too, as a recent episode of Bravo TV's Top Chef demonstrated; contestants on that program had to prepare a healthy yet fun lunch for middle school students that cost $2.68 per child, which is how much schools are reimbursed by the federal government for each student who is eligible for "free lunch" via the National School Lunch Program. http://www.bravotv.com/top-chef/season-7/outside-the-lunch-box
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