Healthy Lifestyles—The State of Nutrition in Schools Today
Email National PTA’s Health & Wellness staff to receive an electronic copy of the Healthy Lifestyles at Home and School notebook.
First, the bad news
- Junk food is readily available to students in most schools. Although foods provided through federal school lunch and breakfast programs must meet certain nutritional guidelines, there are few federal laws dealing with other food available on school grounds, such as food sold in vending machines, school stores, fundraisers or a la carte cafeteria snack lines. These foods are known as “competitive” foods because they “compete” with the service of nutritious school meals. Competitive foods are available in almost all high schools, and in half of all elementary schools.(1)
- 75 percent of the drinks and 85 percent of the snacks in school vending machines are junk foods like sweetened soda, candy and chips.(2)
- Childhood obesity is costing schools money. A study showed that obese students tend to have higher rates of absenteeism. Because schools’ state funding is determined by attendance, absenteeism can cost small districts hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, and losses for large city school districts could be in the millions.(5)
Now, the good news
- Many schools have found that replacing junk foods with healthier foods and beverages (e.g., bottled water, 100% juice, yogurt, fruit) in vending machines has not hurt their revenue, and in some cases has even increased revenue.(6)
- Many studies show that improvements in the school food environment have a positive effect on students’ dietary choices while at school.(7)
- The School Breakfast Program provides students with at least one-fourth and the National School Lunch Program at least one-third of the recommended levels for key nutrients. Over 8 million children participate daily in the School Breakfast Program, and over 28 million in the National School Lunch Program.(8,9)
- Children who participate in school meal programs have better nutritional intake than those who do not. In addition, participation in the School Breakfast Program has been shown to improve standardized test scores, improve attendance, decrease tardiness, and improve participation in class.(10)
Did you know?
Poor nutrition, even in non-overweight children, can affect brain development and performance in school.(3) Children without proper nutrition may have a shorter attention span, more irritability, and more suspensions. In addition, a 2004 study showed that overweight kids are more likely to be bullies or victims of bullying than children of normal weight.(4)
Sources
For more information and resources visit www.pta.org and www.parentsaction.org
1. Center for Science in the Public Interest. 2003. Pestering Parents: How Food Companies Market Obesity to Children.
2. Center for Science in the Public Interest. 2004. Dispensing Junk.
3. California Project LEAN. Successful Students Through Healthy Food Policies. Healthy Food Policy Resource Guide.
4. Janssen, et al. Associations Between Overweight and Obesity With Bullying Behaviors in School-Aged Children. Pediatrics. 2004; 113: 1187-1194.
5,6,10. Action for Healthy Kids. The Learning Connection: The Value of Improving Nutrition and Physical Activity in Our Schools (PDF).
7. Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. 2004. Fact Sheet: Schools Can Play a Role in Preventing Childhood Obesity.
8. Food Research and Action Center. Child Nutrition Fact Sheet: School Breakfast Program (PDF).
9,10. Food Research and Action Center. Child Nutrition Fact Sheet: National School Lunch Program.
This information was brought to you from the Healthy Lifestyles at Home and School notebook, created in partnership with Parents' Action for Children.
What Should Be Included In A Wellness Policy? (PDF)
Healthy Lifestyles—The State of Nutrition in Schools Today
Email National PTA’s Health & Wellness staff to receive an electronic copy of the Healthy Lifestyles at Home and School notebook.
First, the bad news
- Junk food is readily available to students in most schools. Although foods provided through federal school lunch and breakfast programs must meet certain nutritional guidelines, there are few federal laws dealing with other food available on school grounds, such as food sold in vending machines, school stores, fundraisers or a la carte cafeteria snack lines. These foods are known as “competitive” foods because they “compete” with the service of nutritious school meals. Competitive foods are available in almost all high schools, and in half of all elementary schools.(1)
- 75 percent of the drinks and 85 percent of the snacks in school vending machines are junk foods like sweetened soda, candy and chips.(2)
- Childhood obesity is costing schools money. A study showed that obese students tend to have higher rates of absenteeism. Because schools’ state funding is determined by attendance, absenteeism can cost small districts hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, and losses for large city school districts could be in the millions.(5)
Now, the good news
- Many schools have found that replacing junk foods with healthier foods and beverages (e.g., bottled water, 100% juice, yogurt, fruit) in vending machines has not hurt their revenue, and in some cases has even increased revenue.(6)
- Many studies show that improvements in the school food environment have a positive effect on students’ dietary choices while at school.(7)
- The School Breakfast Program provides students with at least one-fourth and the National School Lunch Program at least one-third of the recommended levels for key nutrients. Over 8 million children participate daily in the School Breakfast Program, and over 28 million in the National School Lunch Program.(8,9)
- Children who participate in school meal programs have better nutritional intake than those who do not. In addition, participation in the School Breakfast Program has been shown to improve standardized test scores, improve attendance, decrease tardiness, and improve participation in class.(10)
Did you know?
Poor nutrition, even in non-overweight children, can affect brain development and performance in school.(3) Children without proper nutrition may have a shorter attention span, more irritability, and more suspensions. In addition, a 2004 study showed that overweight kids are more likely to be bullies or victims of bullying than children of normal weight.(4)
Sources
For more information and resources visit www.pta.org and www.parentsaction.org
1. Center for Science in the Public Interest. 2003. Pestering Parents: How Food Companies Market Obesity to Children.
2. Center for Science in the Public Interest. 2004. Dispensing Junk.
3. California Project LEAN. Successful Students Through Healthy Food Policies. Healthy Food Policy Resource Guide.
4. Janssen, et al. Associations Between Overweight and Obesity With Bullying Behaviors in School-Aged Children. Pediatrics. 2004; 113: 1187-1194.
5,6,10. Action for Healthy Kids. The Learning Connection: The Value of Improving Nutrition and Physical Activity in Our Schools (PDF).
7. Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. 2004. Fact Sheet: Schools Can Play a Role in Preventing Childhood Obesity.
8. Food Research and Action Center. Child Nutrition Fact Sheet: School Breakfast Program (PDF).
9,10. Food Research and Action Center. Child Nutrition Fact Sheet: National School Lunch Program.
This information was brought to you from the Healthy Lifestyles at Home and School notebook, created in partnership with Parents' Action for Children.
