SUBJECT: PRIMARY/ SECONDARY SCHOOL NUTRITION
PURPOSE: This briefing note is a
recommendation for changes in policy pertaining to the providing of nutrition
in primary and secondary schools.
ISSUE: There is not enough action to provide a
balanced diet for children and adolescents in elementary and secondary school.
Background:
Nutrition is an important part of the physiological and psychological development of any child. The food pyramid categorizes certain foods as water, dairy, vegetables, fruits, fats/ oils, meats, and grains. Such foods are also stipulated for what is referred to as “recommended daily intake”. This means that doctors recommend that consumers do not eat more than the specified amount per day. A problem facing modern children today is hyperactivity and this is a result of such things as high sugar in foods. This includes fructose, sucrose etc. More complex foods such as high fructose corn syrup can even be more damaging to these children. These foods specifically are known to cause obesity, diabetes, and hypercholesteremia. The signs and symptoms of which include weight gain, tooth infection/ decay and elevated LDL and triglyceride blood levels. Another issue is too much sodium. Sodium is an element in the periodical table of elements which has a savory flavor. This additive when consumed in excess results in such health problems as enlarged heart muscle, headaches and kidney disease. The recommended daily intake of sodium is 2300mg (American Heart Association). However, most chips include an approximate 139.48mg for a typical size of 28.35 mg (Diet and Fitness Today). It is important to note that modern sodium contains iodine which essentially prevents goiter endemia, also it lowers serum cholesterol and lowers blood pressure. It is included as a prophylaxis. In the USA the dosage of iodine per gram of salt is 45mcg to g (Mayo Clinic). Despite this however, children when they grow older are at risk of high blood pressure which is “linked to early development of heart disease and premature death” (American Heart Association). It is necessary to limit the intake of this as to mitigate such effects to the health of growing children. Monosodiumglutimate is also another additive used in many processed foods. This food creates a flavor of umami, essentially enhancing the flavor of the consumable. Monosodiumglutimate is known to cause toxic health effects as “CNS disorder, obesity, disruptions in adipose tissue physiology, hepatic damage, CRS, and reproductive malfunctions” (Niaz et al.) Thus, it becomes increasingly important to be aware of the MSG content in the foods that children consume. Another substance in food is what are referred to as trans fats. These are essentially a processed oil by which causes an array of health concerns. Consuming too much of these can cause the athletic performance of children to be drastically reduced. High consumption of the aforementioned results in raising bad cholesterol and lowering the good cholesterol. Trans fats also have “an adverse effect on the brain and nervous system” (Ginter et al.) as well as increasing the risk of coronary heart disease. Another additive of foods to be avoided are the artificial coloring or the dyes. These are known to cause hyperactivity- ADHD, increased inflammation and disruptions to the immune system. Further, there are artificial sweeteners. These cause CNS effects wherein these penetrate the blood brain barrier to induce overeating, taste bud changes, affects to gut health, diabetes, and gastrointestinal issues such as dysbiosis and bloating. Growth hormones are also found in food. Many farmers use this substance to allow livestock to grow faster. Possible long term side effects of growth bovine hormones are as follows: tumors and cancer; however, research says that it is not clear and further studies need to be conducted. In chickens the hormone used is purified chicken growth hormone. According to Vegetarian Guide they say, “hormone residues found in meat from these animals can disrupt the consumer’s hormone balance, cause developmental problems, interfere with the reproductive system and even lead to the development of cancer”. It is important to have such growth hormones in moderation. Before going into food processing the last substance of note are antibiotics. According to MD Health such antibiotics used to prevent infection in livestock can result in long term side effects to customers as digestive problems, immunity issues, metabolic disorders, increased risk of diabetes, yeast infections, allergies, antibiotic resistance, obesity, and asthma. It becomes clear that these should be avoided if possible. The types of food should also be considerate of gender. Soy promotes estrogen production while tuna, testosterone and nuts such as walnut and macadamia promote both.
Food processing involves the handling of raw material. What is important to note is that the food industry has not yet adopted aseptic technique. In fact, in the USA the FDA published “Aseptic Guidelines” suggesting how the industry can better manage food production. For the average school however, what’s practical here is the preparation and processing of food. Preparation involves the handling of raw material while processing involves using raw material and transforming it into edible food. The important thing to note about preparation is the washing of raw food such as vegetables and fruit. Proper washing removes all the pesticides that were used to grow the food. Pesticides have known adverse effects on people of which include infertility, birth defects, endocrine disruption, neurological disorders and cancer. Also, fertilizer can remain on food such as mushrooms. Fertilizer is composed of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (SFGate 2021). Fertilizers have long term side effects as respiratory problems, cardiac disease and several types of cancer. Some fertilizers are known to have heavy metals and such metals have effects on the body such as cancer, nerve damage, kidney and liver damage, respiratory disease, disease of the GI tract or stomach, immune system problems amongst others. Lastly, meats can contain animal feces. This means that proper washing during preparation becomes increasingly important. Without adequate washing such infections as salmonella, listeria, staphylococcus aureus are high. What is important in food processing as it pertains to providing nutrition in elementary schools is the aseptic technique. Staff are to ensure that surfaces are sanitized and that food is stored adequately with the suggested temperatures per the regional health authority stipulations. When food is processed temperatures for cooking must be followed per the guidelines set forth in the Serving it Right course. This ensures that food have the necessary reactions to heat and cook the food tbus preventing the risks to the children’s health. Lastly food should be packaged adequately so that any open air is sealed. The final item to be concerned about when creating a diet program for elementary/ secondary children/ adolescents is GM food. It is up to the schools administer it, if they are going to be providing such foods to the students however to digress, these food cause such long term side effects as; altered metabolism, inflammation, kidney and liver malfunction, and reduced fertility.
Most of the mentioned additives are used in processed foods. Essentially these foods are convenient however, in such convenience they serve as a method to reduce the overall health and well being of the child. Thus, it is necessary to eat these as with any other food in moderation. The problem with creating a meal plan for children in elementary school and adolescents in secondary school is the fact of the matter that every individual has different needs. Thus, it is important to refer to statistics to determine exactly the needs of the average child/ adolescent. A balanced diet is always recommended so that optimal health can be achieved.
Considerations:
Phosphorous is a food additive that is known to affect
the brain. In fact consuming the
recommended daily amount benefits the development of proper nerve and muscle
function. It works with calcium helping
the brain to send signals and impulses in response to stimuli. The recommended daily intake of phosphorous
to attain the effects are 1250mg per day according to the Institute of
Medicine. Phosphorous is naturally found
in fish, pork, tofu and milk. Calcium is
important for bone development and it plays an important role in the central
nervous system. Calcium can be found in
various food including cheese and milk.
Calcium’s recommended daily intake is 1000- 1200mg/ day. Potassium is another additive that has positive
benefits to the health of children. The
recommended daily intake of this additive are 3510mg per day adjusted downwards
for children based on their energy requirements according to WHO. Potassium specifically acts to prevent
hypertension and cardiovascular disease.
However too much potassium can cause hyperkalemia resulting in abdominal
pain, diarrhea, and chest pain (palpitations and arrythmias). Thus, it is necessary to heed caution. Omega 3 fatty acids help the development of the
brain, reduce risk of heart disease, reduce ADHD, and reduce symptoms of
metabolic syndrome. They also act as powerful antioxidants for
inflammation. The recommended daily
intake of this substance is 2000mg for children and adolescents according to
Nordic Naturals. Fiber is an important
part of any diet. It allows the body to allow
or facilitate the process of peristalsis in the GI tract preventing constipation. Fiber can be found in various fruits,
vegetables and grains. Studies show that
having a high fiber diet can result in better weight control, reduced cholesterol,
assist in digestion, reduces risk of heart disease, prevents diabetes amongst others. The recommended daily intake of fiber is for
males 25- 38g/ day (American Heart Association). A “high functional diet” for the elementary
school student needs to consist of food high in nutrients, minerals and
vitamins. These are essentially the
building blocks by which the body needs in order to be able to perform daily
functions. A high functioning diet that
would create results would likely be optimized on nutrition to each of the following
body systems; Sensory, neurologic, gastrointestinal,
lymphatic, cardiac, pulmonary, musculoskeletal, renal, endocrine and integument
systems. When attempting to create a “high
functioning diet”, it is necessary to keep in mind what nutrients, vitamins and
minerals are included and their interactions as well as their therapeutic
effects. For example, the sodium and
potassium have a therapeutic interaction.
This is what is referred to as the sodium potassium pump. It functions to keep the axons ready for
another signal. And such signal is
brought about or initiated with calcium.
All of this is functioned via energy.
Mitochondria use sugars and create adenosine triphosphate so that the
sodium potassium pump can function. Another example is calcium and Vitamin
D. Vitamin D helps with the absorption
of calcium. The relationship between the
included substances in each entrée needs to be analyzed in order to create the
desired therapeutic effect which are to be exhibited in the children. This could empirically be observed through
things as academic or athletic performance.
With concern of the foregoing, it is necessary to look at
what is implemented in various countries.
Sweden, South Korea and Japan all have meal plans for their elementary/ secondary students. It is important to brief on
these. According to Livsmedelsverket, a
Swedish food agency, school lunches in Sweden are provided free for those ages
7- 16 and 16- 19. The cities use a
centralized facility to prepare and process the food at which point it are
delivered into the schools. The lunches
are a main part of the education plan of the country and it is expected that
students have “better presuppositions to learn” (Livsmedelsverket 2021). According to The Korea Times, all elementary
schools in Seoul provide free lunch to their students. It is part of a social welfare program
designed to give both students and parents a break. Japan implements a meal program that is not
free but highly subsidized. It is referred
to as, “Kyushoku.” Essentially it is embedded into education. Students have their meal and clean up after
themselves. Often they would do tasks as
sweeping, mopping, recycling amougnst others.
Kyushoku is like a subject, just like math or science. With all these examples explained, it becomes
evident that the government should implement a meal plan for elementary
students. Western society has become a
place wherein both the parents work which means they are short in time to
prepare a well balanced healthy lunch for their kids. The stakeholders for this matter are: the government, the schools, the parents and
the students.
Options:
Option 1: Meal plans for elementary/ secondary students.
This is not a feasible option. The government would have to contract out
work to companies such as Sodexo in order to be able to provide such
service. They would further have to
source materials from such companies as Gordon Foods and or Sisco. Providing free meals or subsidized meals
requires a lot of planning and the government is going to have to design the “high
functioning diet” as according to the nutritional demands of the students with
respect to statistics. The “high
functional diet” is similar to how the USA contracts certain food suppliers for
their militia. The efficacy of such diet
can be measured through academic performance or athletic performance. From an equality stand point, this option
essentially provides students with meals that are intended to give them results
in the future, just as any other person hence equal opportunity. As for equity, an adequate meal plan allows
students to experience the nutritional value by which could boost their
academic or athletic performance. This
is the most sustainable option because the government includes such meal plan
in the course material. It will better prepare
students for the life skills they need to be independent.
Option 2: Status quo.
This is the most feasible option however; it is an option
that seeks to maintain the inequality between students and their parents amongst
their peers and their parents. By
selecting this option, the government does not plan the trajectory of the
academic or athletic performance of the kids.
Henceforth this option is not sustainable. This option is also not equitable. It seeks to keep the disparity in the criteria
for academic or athletic performance.
Recommendation:
Option one is recommended.
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