Unhealthy food in
New Zealand schools-against
Are the foods that schools sell unhealthy? Do they play a major role of cause in child obesity? The
New Zealand government obviously thinks that the answer to both these questions is yes. They have just released a restriction that will take place in all New Zealand schools in June next year, this means that foods like pies, sausages and sausage rolls will be taken off the menu. A lot of people say that this is not the cause of childhood obesity and that it is a waste of time, but others strongly believe this will help fight the obesity epidemic.
Firstly, I believe that this ban will only make the obesity epidemic worse as children will be able to bring what they like to school in their lunch boxes but the school won’t be supplying it. Many people also believe that schools should not have to worry about children’s health and that the government’s restrictions will just make schools lose profits. They believe that it should be down to the parents to monitor what their child eats. The president of the principles federation states that schools are made to give students an education not to tell them what to eat, I agree with this comment completely.
Additionally, banning all unhealthy foods will be giving kids mixed messages as they tell them to sell chocolates for fundraising then they tell them that foods like chocolate should not be eaten. If children are not buying their lunch from schools they will buy it from somewhere that sells foods with even higher levels of fat such as bakeries and dairy’s. Schools also sell healthier versions of foods like hot bites which are mince pies approved by the heart foundation and if they were banned like the new law states kids will buy pies with more fat.
On the other hand, child obesity needs great attention and the government is trying to combat it with banning unhealthy foods. Prime Minister Helen Clark says the country is dealing with a horrific child obesity problem. She says she is impressed by the number of schools that have voluntarily moved to selling healthy foods. This may teach children foods like pies are not meant to be eaten on a daily bases which will decrease the number of obese children.
Also, the
University of
Auckland studied that on average it will cost only $7 more to fill a shopping trolley with healthy food. The same goes for school canteens it is only slightly dearer to buy a healthy lunch than to buy an unhealthy lunch. It also explains that children just need to see how easy it is to buy healthy food. Another study showed that behaviour and attentiveness improved by 20% on a healthy diet which will be easier on teachers.
In conclusion, I believe that schools should not have to ban the sale of unhealthy foods as families just need to learn to teach their children better eating habits. A schools job is to educate children not to tell them what they can and can’t eat. So maybe you should look at your own school and life and decide whether we really need to ban unhealthy foods in schools.
Gareth
