Marsiglia,+Ashley

Many children eat up to two meals per day at school ( Breakfast/Lunch). ||= __**What I WANT to Know**__ How is the goverment and other local officaials reacting to this issue? What are their plans for solving this problem? ||= **__What I LEARNED__** In recent media and research reports, the federal goverment has announced their plans. The goverment is going to raise the standards for school nutrition and also elminate unhealthy options. || for students. Some schools offer pizza, frenchfries, icecream, etc. ||= What is the connection between a nutritious diet and performance level as shown by research? ||= Lack of nutrition can cause students to have trouble focusing, affecting their success in school. || lack of a nutritious diet. ||= What is the average percentage of overweight studnets in grades K-12? ||= The SBP and the NSCLP are not promoting a nutritious diet for students. || on a daily basis. ||= What is the reasoning behind the food choices in schools? ||= Some schools have already started offering nutritious food options and students like them. || are not learning about how to take care of their body. ||= How does money affect which foods are served in schools? What verifiable accountability systems are in place to insure the moneys spent on school foods are purchasing the best value; nutritionally and cost effectively. ||= Schools make money off of vending machines, candy sales, and other food sales within the school. Many schools use the money for school sponsored clubs, events, etc. || less nutritious than in the elementary schools. || What types of health problems are young children having that are linked to lack of a nutritious diet. Are there healthier options being looked at for students? Has recent exposure to this issue in the popular media sparked an initiation for change in schools?
 * Ashley Marsiglia**
 * KWL Assignment**
 * My Research Paper Topic: lack of nutrition in schools**
 * = **__What I KNOW__**
 * = Many school systems do not provide nutritious choices
 * = Children are becoming overweight at young ages due to their
 * = Sometimes nutritious foods are offered, but not guaranteed
 * = Nutrition is not included in many curriculumns, therefore children
 * = In secondary education ( middle/high school) the food choices are even

Is there funding available for new menus? ||= Lack of nutrition in schools is leading to childhood cases of obesity, diabetes, and mental health problems. Many other health problems are related to these health issues, so childrens health is definitely in danger ||

__Purpose Statement:__ The purpose of my paper is to examine the lack of nutrition in schools and investigate how this issue is effecting student health.
 * Purpose and Thesis Statement Assignment**

__Thesis Statement:__ Nutrition is not a priority in schools today, resulting in significantly damagining effects on student health such as obesity, life span, and diabetes. I'm not sure but I think covering obesity, life span, and diabetes may be to broad for 8 pages. D

Considering the fact that school meals are regulated and must meet certain criteria to continue to receive government funding are you more concerned with the nutritional value of the food served or the portion size? Additionally there are too many external variables to place these issues solely on school nutrition.

Casazza, K., & Ciccazzo, M. (2006). Improving the dietary patterns of adolescents using a computer-based approach. //Journal of School Health//, //76//(2), 43-46.doi:10.1111/j.1746-1561.2006.00067.x This article suggests that computers programs are and effective method for teaching nutrition education.
 * Annotated Bibliography/Reference List**

Harris, G. (2010, February 8). Obama Administration aims to push candy and sugary drinks out of schools; [national desk]. //The New York Times//, p.A14 This article explains some of the ways President Obama plans on regulating what foods are available in schools.

Huffman, D.M., Fontaine, K.L., & Price, B.K. (2003). Obesity. In //Health problems in the classroom an a-z reference guide for educators.// (p.226-227). Thousand Oaks, California: Corwin Press. The section explains what obesity is and how teachers can facilitate physical activity.

Lazor,K.,Chapman,N.,& Levine,E. (2010). Soy goes to school: Acceptance of healthful, vegetarian options in Maryland middle school lunches. //Journal of School Health, 80//(4), 200-206.doi: 10.1111/j.1746-1561.2009.00487.x This article explains how soy based foods were tested in middle schools. The results show that students did in fact eat the soy based products when they were offered.

Let’s Move. (last update or copyright?). //Healthy Schools.// Retrieved from []. This website talks about the role that schools play when it comes to nutrition and explains a new program ran by Michelle Obama.

Milliment, D., Tchernis, R., & Hussian, M. (2010). School nutrition programs and the incidence of childhood obesity. //Journal of Human Resouces, 45//(3), 640-654. Retrieved from @http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy-tu.researchport.umd.edu/ehost/detail?hid=9&sid=64b04e7b-8934-4231-9aa6-afc74ba30584%40sessionmgr12&vid=1&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d you need the url of the publisher and not the link to the ebsco database This article explains that schools are contributing to childhood obesity.

Nestle, M. (2005). Preventing childhood diabetes: The need for public health intervention. //American Journal of Public Health, 95//(9), 1497-1499. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2005.069120. This article explains how schools and other factors in society are contributing to diabetes in both adults and children and what actions need to be taken.

Tomlinson, D., Wilkinson, H., & Wilkinson, P. (2009). Diet and mental health in children. //Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 14//(3), 148-155. doi:10.1111/j.1475-3588.2008.00520.x This article explains how diet influences mental health. It also talks about the importance of breakfast, water, and limiting sugar.


 * Paper Outline/Research Paper Draft**

** How is the lack of nutrition in schools affecting student’s health? ** Introduction: Schools are not making nutrition a priority. · Not offering the best choices through the SBP and the NSLP · Having vending machines in schools with unhealthy drinks and snacks · Selling and offering unhealthy choices throughout the day (for example candy, snacks sold in school stores). · Not enough time spent on nutrition education in the classroom Lack of Nutrition and Obesity: · Most students eat breakfast and lunch at school up to 5days per week · Students are over eating plus they are not eating the right foods · Obesity is very common among younger children · Obesity can cause other health problems · Obesity can continue as you get older · Obesity can cause issues with students social development Lack of Nutrition and Diabetes: · Related to being overweight · Very common issue · Changes in society are influencing this issue · Soft drinks and fast food are major factors · Horrible for children to deal with Lack of Nutrition and Mental Health: · What you eat effects your mental health · The importance of breakfast · The importance of water · Limit sugar · What foods should you eat to ensure good mental health?

How can this issue be corrected? · Greater influence of nutrition education in the classroom § Computer-based programs · Teachers and other school staff should act as role models and model nutritious food choices · Schools should be more focused on student health instead of money

What is the government doing to solve this problem? · Taking away some unhealthy foods in schools · Fill vending machines with nutritious foods · Take away soda and replace with juice and water · Some schools are already making changes in the foods that they serve Conclusion: · Students spend a lot of time at school · If unhealthy foods are offered, students will eat them · Therefore, schools must regulate what foods are offered throughout the school at ALL times (before, during, and after school). · The government needs to have stricter regulations · If action is not taken immediately, the health of today’s youth is only going to continue to worsen.

Abstract In recent years it has been observed that nutrition is not a priority in many schools. Because school systems are lacking in this area students are suffering the consequences. Because nutrition is not a priority in schools today, significantly damaging effects are being placed on student health. For example, obesity, diabetes, and mental health are being negatively affected by the lack of nutrition in schools. The purpose of my paper is to examine the lack of nutrition in schools and investigate how this issue is affecting student health. Furthermore, I will examine how this issue is being viewed and what steps are being taken to put an end to this issue.

NOTE: In your abstract near the end you use "I" and "my"...keep all of your paper in third person language. Avoid first person language. So, "The purpose of this paper..." and "Furthermore, this paper will examine..."

Now that more and more children are developing health problems at very young ages, scientists are searching for evidence that explains why this issue is occurring. Research shows that schools may be contributing to this problem. Despite the fact that the federal government does have regulations on nutrition in schools does not mean that they are not partially responsible.

Because students spend a significant amount of time in school each year it is crucial that schools prioritize nutrition. “Many children consume at least half of their daily calories at school (Let’sMove)”. This statement is proof that schools must offer nutritious choices for students in order to ensure a healthy diet at school. A few programs have been adopted by schools across the United States in efforts to focus attention on nutrition. “With more than thirty-one million children participating in the National School Lunch Program and more than eleven million participating in the National School Breakfast Program, good nutrition at school is more important than ever (Let’sMove)”. The Federal Government does hold some authority over how these programs operate. The Federal Government has specific criteria regarding nutrition elements when it comes to these programs (USDA, date). However, the decision of what foods to serve and how to prepare them is made by local leaders ( USDA,date). In other words, although schools may meet the federal criteria, schools are not offering the best food choices. It is time for school systems to step up and make changes on their level. Some school systems have already begun to make nutritious changes for their students. According to the cafeteria manager at Orange County High School, students will eat healthy foods when they are offered. “ When we went to whole-wheat pizza, the kids fussed for awhile and we lost some of them, but now they don’t say a thing, and pretty much everyone is back to eating them (Harris, 2010,p2)”. It is not only the food programs that are contributing to student health problems. “ Junk food has been banned from official school breakfast and lunch programs, but many schools offer fatty foods and sweets outside of these programs or have vending machines with sodas and candy ( Harris, 2010,p2)”. As long as these unhealthy choices are available, students will take advantage of them. In addition to vending machines there are other unhealthy practices happening in schools. One school “has vending machines with soda, but even more popular among students is the candy cart (Harris, 2010, p2)”. “The school secretary uses the candy cart to keep up with the demand of hungry students on their way to class (Harris, 2010, p2)”. “Candy sales are equal to about four to five hundred dollars per week and the money is used to purchase items for the school sports teams (Harris, 2010, p2)”. This action is proof that nutrition is not a priority in schools. Furthermore this action sends the wrong message to students. In this situation the school is putting money before student health. **Obesity Section here** In addition to obesity, children are battling diabetes. “It seems likely that one third of all children born today will develop type 2 diabetes during their lifetimes and can expect a shortened life expectancy because of it (Nestle, 2005, p.1497)”. “The link between being overweight and type 2diabetes is a sufficient explanation for these frequent cases (Nestle, 2005, p.1497)”. Again, schools are contributing to this health issue. “Recently, tax revenues for schools have been reduced resulting in the introduction of soft drink contracts, vending machines, fast food, and food advertising in schools (Nestle, 2005, p1498)”. School officials must create a school environment that promotes nutrition and wellness. Prohibiting the sale of soda and other soft drinks is one of the first steps. Additionally, many schools use fast food as an incentive for students to perform well. School systems need to develop alternative incentives for students that are either healthy or do not revolve around food. Furthermore, many schools offer extracurricular activities that take place after school hours. During this time school cafeterias are not in operation. “This places an increased demand for convenience foods, which initially results in more eating occasions and consuming more calories (Nestle, 2005, p.1498)”. This is the time when students are very likely to purchase unhealthy drinks and snacks from vending machines. “Children who habitually consume soft drinks and fast food take in more energy, weigh more, and are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than people who consume less of these foods (Nestle, 2005, p.1498”. There is substantial evidence that nutrition plays a key role in the occurrence of type 2 diabetes cases. Also, it is clear that schools need to regulate what foods and drinks are being sold outside of the School Breakfast Program and the National School Lunch Program. By simply regulating the sale of certain foods and promoting healthy eating habits, schools can lead the way to reducing type 2 diabetes cases among children. Nutrition and Mental Health:  In addition to obesity and diabetes, lack of nutrition can have negative effects on student’s mental health (Tomlinson et al., 2009). “It is evident that food intake may cause problems at school resulting in poor concentration and lethargy (Tomlinson et al., 2009, p149)”. It is crucial that schools put a strong emphasis on the importance of eating breakfast and also that schools offer nutritious choices for breakfast foods (Tomlinson et al., 2009). Breakfast requires a lot of attention in schools because “numerous studies suggest that school academic performance can be improved by ensuring that students do no miss breakfast (Tomlinson et al., 2009, p149)”. Therefore school systems must make breakfast available to all students as well as educate students on the importance of this meal. In addition to putting a strong emphasis on breakfast, schools must model the habit of drinking plenty of water. “It is important not to forget water as an essential part of diet, especially in children (Tomlinson et al., 2009, p149)”. Inadequate amounts of water can cause dehydration. “Even mild dehydration can cause restlessness, irritability, and loss of concentration (Tomlinson et al., 2009, p.149)”. Many schools prohibit students to bring water into the classroom fearing that it will cause a distraction. However, schools need to promote students to drink plenty of water throughout the day. By doing so students will practice nutritious drinking habits as well as it will help them be more successful during the school day.