Snack Time
Most American elementary schools
include some downtime for their young students in order to let them take a
break from their school days for a few minutes. This break typically includes a
snack. When thinking of snack foods, one probably imagines sweet or salty foods
that are high in fat content and has a low nutritional value. “Descriptive
studies have noted that the top-selling snack bar foods [in middle schools] (e.g.,
pizza, chips, soda, French fries, candy, and ice cream) are high in fat and
calories”(Cullen and Zakeri, 2004). These types of food provided to students is
not good for their developing bodies and minds and therefore, schools are
trying to change that perception and provide their young students with
something healthier. Students who have had access to snacks that are high in
fats, salts, and sugar tend to have less fruits and vegetables in their diet
overall than those who do not have the same access (Cullen and Zakeri, 2004).
This means that schools are doing the right thing by providing healthier snacks
in order to improve the general diet of elementary students.
An elementary school in Mississippi decided to introduce a new program in which they provided their students with fruit and vegetables instead of the unhealthy snacks they provided before. They found that the students and teachers were much more motivated during the school day (Potter, 2011). Students who are provided the proper nutrition throughout the day make healthier choices out of school as well and are seen to eat more fruit and vegetables in their total diet. With this in mind, schools have been providing healthy snacks to students, which can help counter childhood obesity and other food related health issues such as heart disease (Cullen and Zakeri, 2004).
Learning to choose healthy snacks in school can create life long habits in and out of the classroom. In a study done on six and seven year olds, two groups of students were given healthy snacks in the classroom and were given lessons on the importance of healthy eating. Two more groups of students were not given the lessons or the healthy snacks. When all groups of students were given choices of snacks to eat, both healthy and unhealthy, the students that were given the lessons and had been eating the healthy snacks chose healthy snacks at a much higher percentage than those without the lessons or previous exposure to healthy snacks (Matvienko, 2007). This shows that having healthy snacks in the classroom as well as simple lessons explaining why healthy snacks are a better pick leads to a healthier diet and better food choices overall in young students.
Elementary students do benefit from being provided a snack during the school day, but not if the snack does not have any nutritional value. If the snack provided includes fruits and vegetable or other healthy foods, it can actually promote healthy eating habits. A snack allows students to focus more on the work that they are doing and less on their stomachs. Eating a healthy snack has a positive effect on students’ behavior in the classroom (Matvienko, 2007). This means that schools should change their ideology of what a snack and provide something more nutritious for their students.
An elementary school in Mississippi decided to introduce a new program in which they provided their students with fruit and vegetables instead of the unhealthy snacks they provided before. They found that the students and teachers were much more motivated during the school day (Potter, 2011). Students who are provided the proper nutrition throughout the day make healthier choices out of school as well and are seen to eat more fruit and vegetables in their total diet. With this in mind, schools have been providing healthy snacks to students, which can help counter childhood obesity and other food related health issues such as heart disease (Cullen and Zakeri, 2004).
Learning to choose healthy snacks in school can create life long habits in and out of the classroom. In a study done on six and seven year olds, two groups of students were given healthy snacks in the classroom and were given lessons on the importance of healthy eating. Two more groups of students were not given the lessons or the healthy snacks. When all groups of students were given choices of snacks to eat, both healthy and unhealthy, the students that were given the lessons and had been eating the healthy snacks chose healthy snacks at a much higher percentage than those without the lessons or previous exposure to healthy snacks (Matvienko, 2007). This shows that having healthy snacks in the classroom as well as simple lessons explaining why healthy snacks are a better pick leads to a healthier diet and better food choices overall in young students.
Elementary students do benefit from being provided a snack during the school day, but not if the snack does not have any nutritional value. If the snack provided includes fruits and vegetable or other healthy foods, it can actually promote healthy eating habits. A snack allows students to focus more on the work that they are doing and less on their stomachs. Eating a healthy snack has a positive effect on students’ behavior in the classroom (Matvienko, 2007). This means that schools should change their ideology of what a snack and provide something more nutritious for their students.