Nutrition Education in America

Here are some important excerpts from my essay on Nutrition Education Improvement in America.

It is no secret that America has a problem with nutrition; improving nutrition education has become increasingly urgent in the past few decades. This sense of urgency is yielding myriad studies and campaigns researching causes behind the obesity epidemic, and encouraging people to move away from processed foods and off the couch. 

In order to improve upon this crisis and make nutritious choices accessible to children from varied backgrounds, we should examine the obstacles facing preeminent nationally funded nutrition education programs. Additionally, we must increase funding and research for improved programs aimed at starting reform in the classroom. This reform should begin with proper support, required health classes, school gardens, and community involvement.

We need nutrition education reform now, whether that be through the restructuring of the NSLP, or increased funding of nutrition and education programs like Let’s Move!. Beyond reform though, we need (as Chef Jamie Oliver puts it) a revolution. 

A small collection of American communities, as well as other National governments, have engaged in a complete revision of the way school children learn about food, health and nutrition. These communities have heightened awareness of the importance of education as well as involvement in the health of children. 

Despite steps taken such as President Obama’s Task Force and Let’s Move!, adequate monetary and governmental support have been stagnated. Perhaps this is due to fundamental political differences, such as the extent to which the government should play a role in the individual’s life, and where the money for better funding should come from. 

Strong neo-liberalist economic values may also be influencing the lack of growth in nutrition education as multi-national agricultural corporations our allowed to dominate our food supplies, making processed food cheaper and more abundant.

 In order to reduce childhood obesity rates and improve the  health of America’s children, we should ask our government and Congress to consider the health and future of this nation rather than the importance of political differences.