| Childhood obesity is at alarming levels in this county. | | | | retain information. The fast food generation currently |
| Children in the San Francisco Schools are no | | | | attending the San Francisco Schools needs to be |
| exception. Too much television and video games, and | | | | made aware of how nutrition choices will affect their |
| too little time spent playing outside has led to an | | | | health. But it's a pretty safe bet that the San Francisco |
| epidemic of juvenile health issues. It sure doesn't help | | | | Schools don't have much extra time to teach daily |
| that the San Francisco Schools have had to cut | | | | health classes. That's OK, what they're doing now |
| funding for physical education over the years. But the | | | | might be even better. |
| 2007-2008 school year does have something positive | | | | Schools need to lead by example. Just think of the |
| going for it. Several San Francisco Schools will provide | | | | message that it sent to children to have soda in |
| fresh salad bars, whole grain options, and whole fruits | | | | vending machines and options like chips, ice cream and |
| and vegetable in their cafeterias. | | | | fatty meals for lunch fare. The San Francisco Schools |
| Twenty six San Francisco Schools from elementary | | | | are setting an example that the rest of the nation |
| to high school will benefit from a half a million dollar | | | | needs to emulate. It's high time that schools look at the |
| grant from the mayor's office and the Department of | | | | messages they are sending to our children. |
| Children, Youth, and their families. This is a big deal. The | | | | What Else Can the San Francisco Schools Do? |
| fact that a school district has actually recognized the | | | | While healthier school lunches are a huge improvement |
| importance of nutrition in education is enormous. For | | | | to the San Francisco Schools, the reality is that every |
| the past few decades public education has acted as if | | | | public school district in the country is struggling to |
| the only aspect of learning we should worry about are | | | | succeed. The San Francisco Schools experimented |
| test scores. The San Francisco Unified School District | | | | with the salad bars with pilot programs in a few of the |
| has been forced to slash the arts, physical education, | | | | schools last year. Hopefully more San Francisco |
| and anything not seen to directly affect standardized | | | | Schools will follow this example next year. It is more |
| tests. | | | | costly for the San Francisco Schools to provide this |
| How Does Nutrition Affect San Francisco Schools | | | | fresher fare than canned vegetables and mystery |
| Students? | | | | meat? I'm sure it is. But the San Francisco Schools will |
| Teachers in the San Francisco Schools know that a | | | | recoup the cost in children who are more likely to pay |
| child's academic success lies in several factors: home | | | | attention (maybe less ADD diagnoses), higher test |
| environment, proper nutrition, and a good night sleep | | | | scores, children who are less fussy, and who |
| greatly impact a student's ability to pay attention and | | | | appreciate the taste of fresh foods. |