Junk food in schools is a hot topic for parents. Now, a newly released national study shows that junk food in middle school does not lead to weight gain in children.
The study looked at 20,000 children from kindergarten to 8th grade. It compared students with access to junk food at school to those without, and concluded that there was no difference in weight gain.
Even with this news one local school system is doing all it can to make the lunchroom as healthy as possible.
"The whole time I have been working with them it’s been nutrition, and so we have not changed anything,” said Darlene Johnson the cafeteria manager at Indian Trail Middle School. “I think people are just being awoke ... a wakening up to understand that that's what we've been doing the whole time."
Johnson has been working in this school lunchroom for 15 years. She sees what kids eat here and what they bring from home.
"We have the obesity problem, but it seems like society wants to blame the school, the cafeteria ... so yes I believe they need to understand what servings are ... nutritional food,” said Johnson. “But I'm sure that there are a lot of parents out there do understand it ... and there's some that don't, but when you really get to understanding it … what's going on ... then you start observing more, and then it becomes a way of life."
Karen McGahey is the supervisor of food services for Johnson City Schools. She says that students in Johnson City only eat about 20% of their meals while at school.
"We do think that maybe now everyone will take their own responsibility ... that it is a community effort of limiting screen time, increasing physical activity and making good, healthy food choices both at school, and while students are at home, or out in the community,” said McGahey.
According to the Penn State study kids are also busier at school these days, and therefore have less time to eat food that may be bad for them.
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