Are schools healthy?

[Concernedmummy1]

Hello,

I am a mother and I am becoming increasingly concerned about how schools promote healthy environments. I know as a parent it is our duty to encourage our children's healthy eating and exercise at home but I also feel that schools play an important role. I was wondering what others think? Does your child's school offer healthy eating programs? does it encourage physical activity? In a time when obesity is an increasing threat to our children's future I think it is about time that schools started acting in a way to try and help children consume healthy foods and exercise more. So far my child's school seems to be doing very little...is it wrong that we should ask for more?!

I look forward to hearing other people's comments on this matter! Thanks for taking the time to read this! :)

Concerned Mum

The thing is, if a school does these things, some people complain that they are being dictated to and they know what is best for their child to eat. If they don't do these things, some people complain that they aren't.

Schools try to educate on healthy food choices and exercise. Some children listen, some don't - just like some adults listen and some don't.

Are you a journalist as well as a mum?

Ennis, that's exactly what I thought.

Definitely a journalist. This reads exactly like the stuff they post in the (paid for) non-member requests section.

cross posted in primary Education too ...

I think when you start saying 'healthy eating programmes' instead of 'lunch' and 'physical acitvity' and 'excercise' instead of 'playing' and 'games' then the battle is half lost.

If you don't like the meal the school offers then send a packed lunch and get you imaginary children do do some 'physical activity' in the many hours they are not in school. The school day is only 6 and a bit hours with about 90mins of that taken up with breaks. There is too much to fit into the day without having to do more PE or more feeding.

Reminds me of the one who kept posting all over the place trying to flog her exercise videos a few weeks back....

haha no I am not a journalist, I just had had a talk with my sister who is a teacher and she had bombarded me with all her jargon! We had a bit of a debate about whose role it is to encourage children to be healthy, and I feel that the school has some responsibility...anyway I was interested in finding out other people's opinions and she told me about this website, so thought I would give it a go! Never used a forum before

Whatdo you mean by healthy eating programs?

Children are offered and fruit midmorning and are (constantly it seems) encouraged to walk to school.

"I think it is about time that schools started acting in a way to try and help children consume healthy foods and exercise more"

What do you suggest they do? I'm not sure what they can do to!

(Although I won't be convinced by school diners until the staff are queuing up for them.)

Sorry, it's just your post was so very formal! Normally this is how journalists write when they want stuff for their article.

You'll get the hang of it if you stick around