Mandate Nutrition Courses in School
- by: Brenda Pifher, Keep America's Families Together
- recipient: Douglas ESD Board, President Obama
I am petitioning for nutrition courses in school for two primary reasons. The first reason is that obesity of young (and adult) American's has become outrageous. The issue over this has little to do with physical appearance, however there does come a point where the extra weight causes extra health problems. If children were to be taught how to eat well this problem would be eliminated and we would gradually come back to a nation of healthful, happy families, whom would also get time together because more meals would be prepared at home. Even if not all of the students' parents embrace the new ideas, these children will soon be adults, on their own and need these skills.
Which brings me to my second primary reason, sometimes even before these children become self-sufficient adults, the become a parent. It is of unprecedented importance that should a child become a parent, that the parent know how to care for their baby in every manor, including nutrition.
Just as the nutrition programs in college, students in grades as low as kindergarten need to be taught about nutrition. Each grade level from K - 12 should require a nutrition class that increases the knowledge learned every time the student increases a grade level. When students reach grade twelve, they must receive a passing grade in nutrition, before they can graduate.
Upon graduating from grade 12 nutrition class, students should know things such as the definitions of protein, Carbohydrates, Simple
Carbohydrates, Complex Carbohydrates, Fats, Saturated Fats, Unsaturated Fats, Trans-fatty Acids, Triglycerides, Cholesterol, Vitamins, Minerals, Dietary Fiber, and Calories. They should know how each of these items effect one's health, what amount their body needs of these, where -or in what foods- these are found, and how their body metabolizes them. The students should also know about such things as weight management, how to eat healthy "on-the-go".
Lastly, students need to be knowledgeable on infant nutrition and feeding recommendations, like at what age to start solid foods, such as cereals or pureed fruit/vegetables, the minimum amount food intake an infant needs to maintain good health month by month until baby is one year old, how to detect food allergies, etc. Education for the nutrition of infants should be implemented in grade 8, while continuing to be educated on self nutrition until graduation form grade 12.
We the undersigned, are petitioning for nutrition courses in school for two primary reasons. The first reason is that obesity of young (and adult) American's has become outrageous. The issue over this has little to do with physical appearance, however there does come a point where the extra weight causes extra health problems. If children were to be taught how to eat well this problem would be eliminated and we would gradually come back to a nation of healthful, happy families, whom would also get time together because more meals would be prepared at home. Even if not all of the students' parents embrace the new ideas, these children will soon be adults, on their own and need these skills.
Which brings me to my second primary reason, sometimes even before these children become self-sufficient adults, the become a parent. It is of unprecedented importance that should a child become a parent, that the parent know how to care for their baby in every manor, including nutrition.
Just as the nutrition programs in college, students in grades as low as kindergarten need to be taught about nutrition. Each grade level from K - 12 should require a nutrition class that increases the knowledge learned every time the student increases a grade level. When students reach grade twelve, they must receive a passing grade in nutrition, before they can graduate.
Upon graduating from grade 12 nutrition class, students should know things such as the definitions of protein, Carbohydrates, Simple
Carbohydrates, Complex Carbohydrates, Fats, Saturated Fats, Unsaturated Fats, Trans-fatty Acids, Triglycerides, Cholesterol, Vitamins, Minerals, Dietary Fiber, and Calories. They should know how each of these items effect one's health, what amount their body needs of these, where -or in what foods- these are found, and how their body metabolizes them. The students should also know about such things as weight management, how to eat healthy "on-the-go".
Lastly, students need to be knowledgeable on infant nutrition and feeding recommendations, like at what age to start solid foods, such as cereals or pureed fruit/vegetables, the minimum amount food intake an infant needs to maintain good health month by month until baby is one year old, how to detect food allergies, etc. Education for the nutrition of infants should be implemented in grade 8, while continuing to be educated on self nutrition until graduation form grade 12.
We thank you for your time in reading this letter and concidering our request.
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