Junk foods are among the leading causes of lifestyle diseases, which are responsible for the highest percentage of deaths among the young people. The problem begins at the seemingly innocent stages when they do not have any risk factors to the children. Growing children frequently feel hungry and hence raising the need to have ready snacks for them. Most parents give their children packed snacks in form of junk foods to carry to school and eat during breaks. Since the foods appear tastier than the healthy foods, the children get used to them and hence replacing them with other important foods. As they grow up, they develop a liking for the junk foods and hence causing a serious risk to their health.
Banning junk foods in schools will ensure that children develop a liking for healthier foods and therefore, minimizing on future health complications. School happens to be the place where children spend most of their time. School is a place where they get to learn and adopt to many things that shape their lives. The health of the children is also shaped in school and this is done through their meals (Vecchiarelli, Sumiko & Charlotte 67). Children may not necessarily know what is good for them but go for what they feel is desirable. It is therefore, up to the school administration in collaboration with the parents to help children make the right decisions in their life. Banning junk foods is just one of the healthy decisions that school administrators and the government should make on behalf of the children.
Junk foods do not have any health benefits to the health of the children rather than keeping their mouths busy. Most of them are full of starch and sugar which if taken in excess will harm their bodies. Compared to other healthier foods, snacks can be taken in larger amounts due to their sweetness. This therefore implies that children who frequently consume the junks are likely to develop obesity (Fried & Michele 1513). In a world and country where obesity has become a serious issue among the adults, it will only be fair if the future generation is saved from its consequences. Banning junk foods in schools may appear painful for the children, yet it will have more benefits for them in the near future.
Healthcare is a serious issue in America with most of the funds being invested on the same. The main reason for this is that most people over indulge in junk foods and hence developing heart related complications. Since most parents are lenient on their children, they are not able to discipline their eating habits. The fact that the parents could also be addicted to the junks complicates the issue. Instilling the discipline in schools will go a long way in helping this young generation live a healthy life (Nestle 84). Not having junk foods in their lunch boxes will leave the children with the option of eating healthy foods provided for them. As they continually eat the foods, the practice will grow into a habit that will make them dislike junk foods. Banning of junk foods can be done alongside lessons that will help the children realise health risks associated with junks. As they learn and adopt to eating whole meal foods, they will also impart similar lessons to their parents who may also be forced to change their eating habits.
Works cited
Fried, Ellen, and Michele Simon. "The competitive food conundrum: can government regulations improve school food?." Duke Law Journal (2007): 1491-1539.
Nestle, Marion. "Food marketing and childhood obesity—a matter of policy." New England Journal of Medicine 354.24 (2006): 2527-2529.
Vecchiarelli, Stephanie, Sumiko Takayanagi, and Charlotte Neumann. "Students’ perceptions of the impact of nutrition policies on dietary behaviors." Journal of School Health 76.10 (2006): 525-531.
