The Writing process unfolds.....

When we first began this class, I felt that I would be writing a typical paper, as I have done so many times in the past. That I wouldn't necessarily learn anything that I hadn't already experienced. But I couldn't have been more wrong. The seminars have been engaging, even exciting because of Dr. M's direction and I find myself challenged more than I had expected to be. This is what college is supposed to be ---waking up your mind to very different ideas and diverse points of veiw---even if only to solidify our own beliefs even more. Choosing to investigate the content of school lunches and how the unhealthy foods are affecting our children was a fantastic choice for me because I am concerned that my children be fed the healthiest diet I can provide for them. My research has been both shocking and also hopeful, as I have uncovered several articles about just how much fat and salt are in a typical school lunch, how this elevates BMI (body mass index) and blood pressure in children, escalating the likelihood of developing diabetes or obesity. The hopeful part I found when I retrieved a few articles about schools who have made changes in their lunch programs by offering fresh fruits and vegetables (instead of canned or frozen), whole grains, and lean meats. The results were positive and measureable, as the children were retested for BMI and BP, with overall reductions in their numbers. An increase in physical activity accompanied this change of diet, as well, but the results of these experiments is both promising and reason to help our schools locally to implement these very practical changes. Our children deserve to feel good and live healthy lives---that is something we all can agree upon!