I walked by an elementary school the other day and I did a double take. I could have sworn that instead of a playground full of children I was looking at a casting call for a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory remake.
You know what I’m talking about—Oompa Loompas.
Round, orange skin and white hair. Ok, maybe the orange skin and white hair are a stretch. But MAN were these kids round.
School administrators take note: YOU have the power to change this. Kids aren’t much different than us adults. They are just as limited by convenience and accessibility for their meal options.
Stock your cafeteria with McDonalds-quality food? They’ll eat it. Stock your cafeteria with tasty health food? Yep, they’ll eat that too. Have only soda and candy vending machines in the hallway? Guess where that milk money is headed. Replace them with healthy vending machines and you can bet they’ll suck down juice boxes and munch on trail mix.
If making your kids healthier for their sake alone isn’t enough, the USDA has provided monetary incentives for implementing healthy food options and physical activities into your school.
The HealthierUS School Challenge (HUSSC) is a voluntary initiative established in 2004 to recognize those schools participating in the National School Lunch Program, which has created healthier school environments through promotion of nutrition and physical activity. Monetary awards between $500 and $2000 are given to schools who succeed at reaching the coveted HUSSC status, which is based on certain criteria.
I know what you’re thinking: “How can I grab a piece of that HUSSC glory?” Head over to the HUSSC Website for details and for Pete’s sake (you know, Pete, that little dumpling of a kid in room 405) get rid of your Coke machines.