Obesity & Snacks at School

Childhood obesity is a growing problem in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now estimates that nearly 20% of children aged 6 to 19 are obese. Parents and professionals alike are looking at the foods children eat to seek ways to reverse this trend.

Government Initiatives

• In 2007 the Institute of Medicine targeted the food choices available for school lunches, in on-campus vending machines, at school snack bars and even in classroom parties.This fueled changes to the 2010 Child Nutrition Act, which seeks to give the Department of Agriculture the power to set standards for any food sold on school grounds, including in vending machines and in a la carte lines.

School-Based Initiatives

• School systems are seeking to replace high-fat, high-calorie snacks with flavored water, fruit, vegetables, whole grain snacks and low-fat diary snacks in lunch menus, vending machines and snack bars. They also are trying hands-on nutrition activities, such as planting school gardens and playing "Chef for a Day."

Parental Contributions

• Parents have the most influence over their child's diet.

  Healthy lifestyles, which include diet and exercise, begin at home with parents. Incorporating fruits, vegetables and whole grains into after school snacks and evening meals complements the efforts made by schools and other professionals.