|
Honorable Mention: Peter J. Housewright, Sapulpa High
School/11th Grade
Healthy Choices in School Vending Machines
Obesity rates are increasing at an alarming rate and it seems
to be worldwide. Teenage obesity was a concern of mine, especially
since the ninth grade where I found my weight and height at a great
mismatch. I was about five feet nine inches and weighed a much
as two hundred forty pounds.
At that time the problem was as much a matter of self-esteem as
it was being overweight. Today’s teens and children’s
obesity rates are increasing at an alarming rate. The rates have
tripled in the last two decades. Carrying excess body weight can
increase your risk of developing or worsening an existing medical
condition like asthma, diabetes, chronic illness, and sleep apnea.
Being accepted in the peer groups was my next objective. Some major
changes had to be made, and now was the time to start looking at
my options.
My goal was to be as trim as possible when I started the tenth
grade, and I began exercise and diet in the summer after my ninth
grade year. When I started the tenth grade, I was at two hundred
pounds, still a long way to go, but at least a start. There wasn’t
that much of a noticeable change in my appearance so I continued
toward my goal of one hundred seventy pounds. I achieved that goal
at the beginning of my junior year. I am now at one hundred seventy
pounds and six foot one inch tall, a fair balance of height and
weight, not to mention the self-esteem and acceptance in my peer
groups. I had no clear direction as to what diet or exercise programs
would help the most, so I started bicycling and running. The next
thing was to eliminate as many soft drinks and junk foods as possible.
With soft drink and candy machines in the school café, my
problem was compounded. Some of the diet changes began with vending
machine choices that were very purposeful and goal directed. The
purpose of this essay is to compare and contrast vending machine
healthy and unhealthy choices for teenagers.
Vending machine choices are dependent on item assessments, costs,
choices, and legislation. To begin, the choice of items to be healthy
would complement the United States Food and Drug Administration’s
recommended requirements for nutrition. There would be limited
or no food additives or preservatives and there would be shorter
shelf life with appropriate portion sizes. Unhealthy items include
empty calories and items that have high food additives and preservatives
to aid longer shelf life. Many times these items are super sized
and increase calories and fat that lead to weight gain and other
health related problems.
Comparing costs between healthy and unhealthy choices is like
comparing a home cooked meal to a TV dinner. In season, fresh produce
from local farmers could be managed by the school’s food
service to support small business and a local economy. ‘Made
in Oklahoma’ products could have more contracts and provide
an increased commission for their products. The national and lucrative
contracts of the soda and candy vendors are supporting big business.
The vendors of the unhealthy choices make profits at the expense
of students’ nutrition habits.
Increasing healthy drinks and snacks could influence choices
of the students, making them at eye-level in high traffic areas
and using some marketing and education components. For example,
student surveys could be distributed and sample choices given to
participants. Contests could be done to reward students making ‘healthy
choices’. Some of the drink choices could be juices, water,
low-fat milk/yogurt, soy milk, and Gatorade or energy drinks for
the athletes. Some healthy snacks could be pretzels, baked chips,
air crisps, beef jerky, nuts, low-fat cookies, fresh fruits (apples,
strawberries, and bananas), dried fruits, raw vegetables, salads,
trail mix, low-fat popcorn and granola bars. By contrast, unhealthy
choices such as chips, crackers, candy and candy bars, donuts,
and cookies and cakes. These wold need to be priced higher and
below eye level in the vending machine.
Also, someone behind the change, a champion, usually sponsors
Oklahoma legislation that influences vending machine choices in
the school. The champion could be a principal, school nurse, or
concerned parents. Oklahoma Senators Cain, Winchester, and Trebilcock
supported the SB 265 promoting healthy choices in school vending
machines through the ‘2005 Fit Kids Coalition’. Additional
promotional activities could be conducted in the form of signs,
contests and health fairs. Perhaps Oklahoma health insurance providers
could be petitioned to subsidize the increased cost of healthy
food in our schools, which would lead to a more healthy generation
with less cost to insurance providers. The possibilities are endless
and in time the volume increase of healthy food snacks in schools
would themselves drive the cost of health food down to a comparable
cost of junk food.
“Nearly one-third of America’s children are overweight
or at risk of becoming overweight. Schools recognize that obesity
is a serious problem facing children,” said Eric M. Bost,
USDA Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services. “Making
It Happen! shows that schools are not only very concerned about
the health of their students but are willing to take action to
improve it.” Healthy choices in vending machines does make
a difference and as a result of weight loss, I have had an improvement
in physical health, quality of life, energy level, physical mobility,
general mood and self-confidence.
American Obesity Association. (2005). Global Obesity. Retrieved
March 28, 2005, from http://www.obesity.org/education/global.shtml
Center for Disease Control and Prevention Division of Adolescent
and School Health Website. (2005). Making It Happen! Retrieved
March 28, 2005, from http//www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth
Food and Nutrition Services. (2005). Tools for Healthier School
Nutrition. Retrieved March 28, 2005, from http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn
Junk food. (2005). Junk food for teenagers. Retrieved March 28,
2005, from http://www.junkfood.com
Back to Top |
