Agriculture Secretary
Dear Sir,
Ref: SCHOOL LUNCH ISSUES
I take this moment to appreciate you and the ministry for the desire to ensure that our children in school are not only fed but also given healthy foods. However, it is with deep regret that what you actually meant is not being practiced and hence making the entire program more of a curse than a blessing. I understand that the program was to ensure that all children, irrespective of their economic background access food in school and above that, to minimize the rate of child obesity in United States. The issue of feeding a hungry child and that of equally ensuring that each child is fed healthy contradicts itself. As we all know, obesity is caused by processed foods, which is an alternative to natural farm products, which are not only expensive but also difficult to obtain. The food system in school is also aimed at cutting on costs, which may not exactly serve the healthy food program (United States. Dept. of Agriculture 20).
It is for these and many other reasons that processed foods are still being served in school at a lower quality and quantity. This is hence compromising on the diet needs of the children, which is likely to lead to malnutrition. I would request that the ministry follow up on what is being served in school to ensure that it meets the quality standards it was meant for. It will also be appropriate if the program is introduced well in schools so us to allow the children to adjust to it. It is unfortunate that the program does not consider the specific needs of each child and hence giving them a generalized food program (Poppendieck 54). There are children who are more active than others are and hence need more energy food. This should also be done according to the economic capability of the child, age and weight. Assumptions should be avoided at all costs even as we look forward to a healthier future generation.
Works cited
Poppendieck, Janet. Free for All: Fixing School Food in America. Califonia: University of California Press, 2009.
United States. Dept. of Agriculture. Production and Marketing Administration. The National School Lunch Program: A Progress Report. Virginia: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Production and Marketing Administration, 1952.
