After a summer of relaxing and sleeping in, going back to school can send children into shock. As a dietitian, I urge parents and schools to stock up on healthful foods to help students stay focused -- and healthy -- throughout the school year.
A new study in Pediatrics showed students at schools with strict junk-food laws gain less weight compared with peers with access to vending machines. In this three-year study of 6,300 students, those in states with strong junk-food laws gained an average of roughly 2.25 fewer pounds for a 5-foot-tall child, compared with those in states with no snack policies.
I hope we can apply these findings directly to the lunch room. Young people who grow up eating fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains are more likely to carry these healthful eating habits into adulthood, decreasing their risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and some forms of cancer.
Susan Levin, M.S., R.D.
Director of Nutrition Education
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine