Business Letter To USDA Secretary Mike Johanns

July 24, 2007

Secretary of U.S. Department of Agriculture Mike Johanns
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20250

Dear Secretary Johanns:

I am pleased to hear that you are helping to fight obesity and offering changes to public schools. I believe that obesity is becoming a great issue in today’s world, especially for children who regularly buy school lunches and purchase snacks from vending machines. In my opinion, schools should offer healthier choices in their lunch programs such as salads, veggie pizza, and vegetables. High calorie foods such as French fries, cookies, and chips should still be allowed in schools, but limited. Research by the USDA itself states that nine out of ten schools offer lunches which do not meet the U.S. Government standards. Unhealthy school lunches are not only putting bad food in children’s systems, but are also increasing childhood obesity.

It is a fact that kids tend to choose more popular lunches to eat such as pizza, macaroni and cheese, and other “tasty” foods rather than healthier choices. Most kids tend to not eat healthy, which causes many problems in their health and lifestyle. Studies by the University of Chicago show that kids who buy school lunches gain an extra forty calories more than children who choose to take their own lunch to school. While it may not seem like much, these few calories could raise the obesity rates. In most schools, burgers and French fries are an everyday option in the school cafeteria. It is important that public schools offer healthier choices on a daily basis, such as yogurt, turkey, milk, trail mix, and fruit. Replacing unhealthy foods with better balanced meals could help kids become healthy individuals. These small changes could not only put better food in children’s stomachs, but could also assure them a strong future ahead.

Filling vending machines with good snacks and offering healthier food choices in schools could make a positive impact in many ways. First of all, children who will cut down on junk food will see positive changes in their physical activity, academics, and their attitude. Kids will feel more energized and optimistic in everything they do. Children will also save money from all the cash they waste purchasing snacks from vending machines. With healthy choices available, eating unhealthy will not even be an option. Kids will learn to train themselves and become morally stronger while avoiding eating unhealthy food, and change for the better.

Offering healthier choices for lunch in public schools will have a positive effect on many people. It is important that good foods be served in schools so that children can improve their health. School environments make a great impact on every child’s life. School has a major influence on children; they are allowed to make their own choices. It is vital that kids be offered good choices so they can improve their futures. The only way to ensure good health of children in public schools is to provide them with balanced school lunches. Taking action and removing unhealthy snacks from vending machines would help kids avoid junk food and make healthy choices. In conclusion, if schools were to offer healthier choices to children during lunch, it would have many positive effects.