By Elora Brow
Staff Writer
Compared to the health-crazed immersing Manhattan Beach, Costa’s food options are unfit for this town, and are setting an unhealthy example for students. Costa should change its eating habits because the food they are serving does not benefit the student’s health and it is not setting them up for life long health habits.
For years, Mira Costa has served food that is beyond unhealthy and has no nutritious value such as Ruffles, and Doritos chips, pizza and fried chicken, instead of offering wholesome foods such as varieties of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. According to Head of Independent Study Athletics, Denise Anderson, these choices are not completely up to the school as the do need to follow the state mandated nutritional rules, Costa should work towards providing better quality options in order to promote healthy living to the students.
According to Costa Principal Dr. Ben Dale, the food served at school follows the guidelines that are state-mandated and these guidelines are very strict. These guidelines set limits on the amount of fat, saturated fat, sugar, and calories that are allowed in the school food. However, even if they are strict, they are not beneficial because they promote unhealthy eating. Also, considering that the district has enough money to supply these healthier options.
Costa tends to promote a “healthy and fit” lifestyle by encouraging students to participate in many different physical activities, such as school sports, and eat as balanced of a meal as possible, as stated by Anderson. But Costa’s inability to supply nutritious snacks and meals to the students at school contradicts what they are trying to encourage.
According to www.artinstitutes.edu, processed foods served in schools that are high in fat, sugar, and salt have become the backbone of schools lunches across the country. Experts say that these unhealthy school lunches are greatly contributing to childhood obesity. Childhood obesity is a national issue and the unhealthy school foods are not helping solve this current problem.
Costa is also known for having some of the best sports teams, as stated by Anderson. As a result, the athletes should constantly be eating healthy in order to be able to perform at their best all the time. Costa not having nutritious options available makes it more challenging for the athletes to make these healthy decisions when at school which also makes it more difficult for them to form diet routines.
Being in school and constantly absorbing information depletes the brain’s supply of glucose and this glucose needs to be properly replenished with a balanced meal, according to scholastic.com. Healthy food is so-called “brain food” which helps students learn faster and receive better grades. Without this food being offered for the students to buy, they choose unhealthy food that gives them no nutrition and makes them feel slow and sluggish, which can actually affect the student’s performance on tests and the rest of their schoolwork.
Costa has yet to provide wholesome food to the students. Even though there are regulations to what the school can and cannot serve, Costa should try its best to find a way to implement nutritional food into the diets of students while they are at school. This can lead to healthier habits outside of school and an overall healthier community.
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