Healthy school food should be affordable

An apple a day keeps the doctor away, as long as the apple is affordable. Schools are trying to keep unhealthy snacks and sugary drinks out of vending machines. But an apple at Lisle Senior High School costs more than buying a giant chocolate chip cookie. A banana is 15 cents more than a fatty cupcake. In order to save money, students are forced to make unhealthy choices.

Students' inability to purchase low-calorie foods may contribute to the obesity problem. The prevalence of obesity among children ages 6 to 11 increased from 6.5 percent in 1980 to 19.6 percent in 2008. Obesity among 12 to 19-year-olds increased from 5 to 18 percent.

People who do not have the extra money will probably choose the cheaper, less healthy food choice. The push in the media for healthy lifestyles and changing attitudes is honorable, but there needs to be a solution for equal chances for success for all economic levels.

Steps already taken have helped dramatically - removal of pop in the vending machines and the addition of the salad bar. But there needs to be a way to reduce the cost of healthy foods in school cafeterias. Food services need to take little or no profit in healthy foods and charge extra for junk food. Another option would be to require schools to purchase healthier foods and sell them at a lower cost.

Danielle Grego

Lisle