1. Eating Habits in America Jennifer Leibel

2. Facts and Predictions Our generation will be the first in US history to die at younger ages than our parents Our generation will be the first in US history to die at younger ages than our parents 1 in every 2 Black and Latino children, and 1 in every 3 white children born in 2000 will contract diabetes 1 in every 2 Black and Latino children, and 1 in every 3 white children born in 2000 will contract diabetes 20% of children are obese 20% of children are obese Childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years Childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years Researchers have found that foods high in sugar and fat activate the same reward system as cocaine and other drugs, and cause the release of dopamine Researchers have found that foods high in sugar and fat activate the same reward system as cocaine and other drugs, and cause the release of dopamine

3. Changing Eating Habits Ann Cooper - director of nutrition services for Boulder Valley School District in Colorado and author of Lunch Lessons: Changing the Way We Feed Our Children Ann Cooper - director of nutrition services for Boulder Valley School District in Colorado and author of Lunch Lessons: Changing the Way We Feed Our Children Strategy includes 5 “challenges” in order to improve children’s eating habits in school Strategy includes 5 “challenges” in order to improve children’s eating habits in school

4. Ann Cooper’s Strategy Challenge 1: Food Challenge 1: Food Say no to foods in most school cafeterias Say no to foods in most school cafeterias Specifically high processed foods, trans fats, high fructose corn syrup, fried foods, foods produced with hormones and antibiotics, and refined sugars and flours Specifically high processed foods, trans fats, high fructose corn syrup, fried foods, foods produced with hormones and antibiotics, and refined sugars and flours Get rid of vending machines with candy, soda, etc. Get rid of vending machines with candy, soda, etc. Say yes to Say yes to Cooking from scratch, salad bars, gardening classes, cooking classes, food tastings, and 30 minute recesses before lunch (helps kids only eat until they’re full) Cooking from scratch, salad bars, gardening classes, cooking classes, food tastings, and 30 minute recesses before lunch (helps kids only eat until they’re full)

5. Ann Coopers Strategy Continued Challenge 2: Facilities Challenge 2: Facilities Provide kitchens with necessary equipment to cook more healthy (refrigeration, heating, serving, and cooking equipment) Provide kitchens with necessary equipment to cook more healthy (refrigeration, heating, serving, and cooking equipment) Challenge 3: Financing Challenge 3: Financing Most schools spend less than $1 on food per child per day; if that were raised to $1.50, healthier food could be offered to the children Most schools spend less than $1 on food per child per day; if that were raised to $1.50, healthier food could be offered to the children

6. Ann Coopers Strategy Continued Challenge 4: Human Resources Challenge 4: Human Resources Give kitchen workers at school proper food- service training because most don’t receive it Give kitchen workers at school proper food- service training because most don’t receive it guides for professionalism, pay scales, new job descriptions, and staff configurations guides for professionalism, pay scales, new job descriptions, and staff configurations Challenge 5: Marketing Challenge 5: Marketing Make healthy food look tasty to kids Make healthy food look tasty to kids Emphasize the importance of eating healthy Emphasize the importance of eating healthy Offer free breakfasts and lunches, promote fresh fruits and vegetables, provide federal funding to rebuild kitchens, raise dietary guidelines Offer free breakfasts and lunches, promote fresh fruits and vegetables, provide federal funding to rebuild kitchens, raise dietary guidelines

7. Philadelphia School Strategy Stop children from buying breakfast at corner store after they already eat at home Stop children from buying breakfast at corner store after they already eat at home Threaten to boycott the store if they sell to children Threaten to boycott the store if they sell to children Convince them to have healthier food in stock Convince them to have healthier food in stock Raise the price of sweets so that children will be less likely to buy it Raise the price of sweets so that children will be less likely to buy it

8. My Opinion Agree: Agree: Childhood obesity can be lessened by stopping the amount of unhealthy food sold at schools Childhood obesity can be lessened by stopping the amount of unhealthy food sold at schools Most people do not know what kinds of food are especially good for you (super foods) Most people do not know what kinds of food are especially good for you (super foods) Things should be taken care of on a federal level because this is a serious problem Things should be taken care of on a federal level because this is a serious problem Children must learn how to eat healthy at a young age Children must learn how to eat healthy at a young age

9. My Opinion Disagree: Disagree: Going to corner stores and asking them not to sell unhealthy foods to their children is not the correct way of going about stopping childhood obesity Going to corner stores and asking them not to sell unhealthy foods to their children is not the correct way of going about stopping childhood obesity It seems as if the main concentration It seems as if the main concentration of the root of obesity is at school; people should also focus on the home aspect of eating

10. Local Plan Going off of Cooper’s plan, there should be different aspects of school staff and lunches that are changed Going off of Cooper’s plan, there should be different aspects of school staff and lunches that are changed For example: For example: Awareness – educate students and staff about healthy choices and alternatives Awareness – educate students and staff about healthy choices and alternatives Equipment – obtain healthier ingredients and cooking material in school kitchens Equipment – obtain healthier ingredients and cooking material in school kitchens Financing – make sure that schools get their moneys worth so they are more likely to go for the healthy options than the unhealthy, cheap options Financing – make sure that schools get their moneys worth so they are more likely to go for the healthy options than the unhealthy, cheap options

11. National School Lunch Program Right now, the National School Lunch Program says: Right now, the National School Lunch Program says: No more than 30% of an individual’s calories can come from fat No more than 30% of an individual’s calories can come from fat Less than 10% can come from saturated fats Less than 10% can come from saturated fats Must provide 1/3 of the Recommended Dietary Allowances of protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, iron, calcium, and calories Must provide 1/3 of the Recommended Dietary Allowances of protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, iron, calcium, and calories States have a list of various foods to choose from, and the specific foods and how they are made is decided by the local school food authorities States have a list of various foods to choose from, and the specific foods and how they are made is decided by the local school food authorities

12. National School Lunch Program To modify this lunch program, schools should be offered more healthy food choices on the list they are provided with To modify this lunch program, schools should be offered more healthy food choices on the list they are provided with How they cook the food should also be regulated How they cook the food should also be regulated Even if all schools get the same foods, they can cook them differently; making them healthy or unhealthy Even if all schools get the same foods, they can cook them differently; making them healthy or unhealthy If this is regulated, then all schools will have to cook in a healthy fashion If this is regulated, then all schools will have to cook in a healthy fashion

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