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Our Children Are... |
Join the Smart Food Revolution to Help Remove Junk Food in Our Schools
“What we teach our children now, they will know forever. “
| For countless American children, breakfast or lunch drops out of a vending machine at school: a can of soda, perhaps washing down a candy bar or bag of chips. Now, a growing number of states are striking back, trying to curb the rise in childhood illnesses by placing strict limits on the sale of candy, soft drinks and fatty snacks in schools. Some schools are eliminating them altogether. In the most well publicized case, the school board in Los Angeles County, which houses the second –largest school district in the country, booted soda from all 677 of its schools. Thanks in part to lobbying by students, teachers, and consumer activist groups, by January of 2004, LA schools will offer to their students, water, milk, and juice drinks that contain 50% juice and no added sweeteners. The American School Food Service Association said, “This is but one step we can take to encourage healthy eating. “ In 1986, New York with 803 public schools, eliminated sugar and chemical additives in the school lunches for four years and reported a 15.7% improvement in academic performance of their students. What a powerful example they were. A food revolution has turned the head of a local community in Appleton, Wisconsin. Central Alternative high School used to be out of control, where kids packed weapons and discipline problems swamped the principal’s office. A local organization called Natural Ovens saved this school with a healthy lunch program. Fast food burgers, fries, and burritos gave way to fresh salads, meat prepared with old-fashioned recipes, and whole grain bread. Fresh fruits, smoothies with flax seed meal and good drinking water were added to the menu. Vending machines were removed. After taking several years to make the change, “grades are up, truancy is no longer a problem, arguments are rare, and teachers are able to spend their time teaching.” A community that dared defy mainstream nutritional protocols and school budget issues has successfully displayed the impact of fresh, healthy food on learning and behavior, and changed the course of the education and lives of its students. The seeds of knowledge in Appleton, Wisconsin have gone to root and they will sprout and flower for generations to come. Why revolt? Why are people “up in arms”? Childhood illnesses are increasing at alarming rates. Obesity has risen to a shocking 25 percent. About 10% of the children in North America have been diagnosed with asthma. Allergies are rampant. Both juvenile diabetes (type 1) and Adult Onset Diabetes (type 11) have shot up markedly in the past fifteen years. Adult Onset Diabetes used to only occur in adults. What does this mean? This means our children are prone to degeneration at earlier ages. We don’t want degeneration; we want regeneration. We want life. Recent reports indicate that 4-12 percent of the children in the US are now diagnosed with ADHD. These conditions present numerous problems for the child, taking their toll physically, mentally, and psycho-socially. Something is wrong – very wrong. The common denominator is the food we eat. It’s time to start a Smart Food Revolution, both in our kitchens and in our schools. It’s an easy concept, with three simple steps:
Our children’s lives depend on us. It is up to us -- the parents and the educators, to provide better alternatives, even if they might appear less convenient. It’s worth it. Nothing is more worth it. Now is the time to take action. Join the SMART FOOD REVOLUTION. Contact your schools today by speaking with your PTA’s, your principals, or calling the school district. Write your congressman. But most of all, we must become good examples and walk our talk. We owe it to our children to become proactive and make a difference in our future. To purchase Dr. Laura’s book, Our Children Are … What Our Children Eat, please contact 800-608-5602 or www.marketplace.mybigcommerce.com. Dr. Laura Thompson, Family Nutritionist and Naturopathic Endocrinologist has a nationwide practice by phone, and locally in Carlsbad, California. Call for in-home testing info, 800-608-5602. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The products suggested, are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please check with your health care practitioner for your best health options.
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Eliminate the offenders. Most children are eating the same foods: pizza, macaroni and cheese, sugary cereals, sodas, French fries, ice cream. When examining our cupboards, most families find long ingredient lists on their grocery items. Eliminate foods with food colorings, preservatives, flavorings (lunch meats, sodas, cereals, fruit drinks), MSG, bouillon, aspartame, BHA, BHT, TBHQ (from petroleum).