Last week my nine year old came home with a letter from the school nurse that informed his father and me that he was in a dangerous weight range for his age. What is so bothersome about this is that I see what they serve him in the school cafeteria. Rarely are there fresh vegetables and whole grains served on his plate during lunch period. What else makes this bothersome to me is the fact that his pediatrician says that his weight is fine. The pediatrician also reported that many pre-adolescent children gain a little weight before they hit their next growth spurt. She told me not to worry and that my son is a healthy boy. Even with the doctor's reassurance, mothers still tend to worry about her children.
Today on FOX News, there was a story about a new lunch tracking card that is used in Australian schools. The card allows for parents to place limitations on what their child can and cannot eat in the school cafeteria. Parents can go to the web site that is associated with the tracking card and make choices of what their child may purchase from the school's lunch menu. While I am currently allowed to view what my own children eat at school, I am not able to choose a healthy menu for them. I think Australia is on to something! The only downside that I see to this is that students will not learn to make good choices for themselves when their parents aren't around. Not to mention that my son would probably hate me for choosing legumes instead of his usual choice of pizza.
The evidence shows that childhood obesity in the U.S.is definitely a problem that we must address. Everywhere our kids are surrounded by supersized portions and junk food. Perhaps this food tracking card could help parents in the U. S. guide their children to make better food choices in school when there is no adult to do it for them. I guess this would mean that all U.S. schools would now have to provide the healthy choices that are needed for this plan to work.
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