It is extremely important for teenagers to fuel up with healthy and nutritious foods in order to stay focused and have a clear and concentrated mindset while at school. Mauldin High School’s cafeteria currently doesn't provide us with this type of nutrition.
Our Cafeteria claims to serve "meals" every day, most of which contain enough sodium and fats to last an average person a few days. These foods are filled with artificial colors, preservatives, and unhealthy starches, not to mention all of the meat additives and supplements that are not advertised in the lunch line. I guarantee you that the "spicy chicken sandwiches" that are served are made of a minimal amount of chicken. Instead, pork, soy and beef substitutes are added to give the illusion of a chicken patty. The "double cheeseburgers" that you buy are hardly full of Grade A meat. You're eating a soy patty that has been colored and flavored to give it the illusion of meat. It's cheaper to serve these fakeburgers than to grill the real thing. If you haven't realized by now, you're being served these foods because they are cheap and can be purchased in bulk. But can this be good for you? By using common sense, you can guess that these meals are far from nutritious, and do nothing to help us live healthy and active lives.
Next, to the "lunch line" is the snack stand, that proudly pumps out endless amounts of sugary and fat-filled drinks, chips and sweets to thousands of children every week. Everyone loves ice cream and cookies, but is a school cafeteria really the place to be eating these high calorie foods? Lunch is supposed to be a time to refuel your body with the food it needs to think, work and play for the rest of the day. Why not save the snacks for after school, when you have longer than twenty minutes to enjoy that carton full of ice cream. Lets replace these snacks with regionally produced healthy options that give us what we need for the rest of the day!
Think about it. Its all up to you. What if we replaced all the fake foods and junk foods that we eat at lunch with fresh fruits and veggies, skim non flavored milk, and actual meals that are made with whole grain and lean meat. Why can't the candy bars and chips be replaced with protein bars, actual granola bars and healthy desserts and other high energy foods? What if the burgers were real, the chicken was chicken, and we actually knew what was in the gravy on that smothers the "Salisbury Steak" and "Teryaki Bites" ? What if we saved the ice cream, cookies, chips and nachos for after school, instead of eating them in the middle of the day when your body needs real food? It is a guaranteed fact that we all would have more energy, be less tired come seventh period, and instead have more time to focus on school and sports, rather than your growling stomach.
It’s time for a change, Mauldin. As much as we all love sweets and junk food, lets set it aside at the lunch table and save it for later. We should demand real food. Food that isn't over-processed or filled with fake sugars and fats. The Revolution starts with you.
What can you do? Think about packing a lunch, and taking time to think about what you're eating the night before. If you don't have time, ask you parents to help out. If we all put down the pizza one day a week, we'll be well on our way to making a difference. It may be hard to start but it'll sure pay off in the long run.
Kick the junk food to the curb. Don't settle for fake food and fillers. Make a difference and be the change. Take the steps to live a healthy life.
Together, we can start a Food Revolution that will change our school and our community.
Please Join the Revolution to make our school healthier: http://www.facebook.com/ho
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