I have a cousin who is excessively obese and knowing this his parents and his doctor have tried catching his attention by putting him in a rigorous diet. He ignores them and he knows that is not healthy to eat so much junk food at school, yet he still chooses to do so because he says he is happy like that and would not change. Knowing all of this and being taught how to take care of his body in elementary, middle school, and high school of what is healthy and what is unhealthy and how much of junk food you can really eat he chooses to keep buying from the vending machines. The school tries its best to provide students with the accurate information about junk food to avoid obesity but it cannot do all the work to force students to not eat junk food. Middle and high schools should sell junk food in the cafeteria, in vending machines, and at athletic events on school property because in benefits the school financially no junk food should be eliminated from schools.
Yes, many would argue that it is affecting the students and school is taking advantage and not thinking about the students’ health and increasing obesity. I will strongly disagree with that statement because in every school there would be a healthy option to eat because there is so much diversity in the school and some students do eat these healthy food so why not others? School does its job to teach and show students the right way to eat and have physical education to promote well exercise and helping your body be healthy not just by the food, but by the exercise. People are well aware of this by others, family, and school and if they don’t change their eating habits when they are bad and they are aware of it no one can do anything because you cannot do all the work for them they also have to try.
One of the reasons junk food in vending machines should not be banned is because it helps the school financially. According to Gary Ruskin in his article The Fast Food Trap, the junk food being sold in the vending machines helps the school get some extra cash for anything the school needs including extracurricular activities. Some schools depend a lot on vending machine companies to provide them the cash that they would not get anywhere else. This provides the schools with money for small things for the school like new computers, extra equipment for any extracurricular activities. It benefits both sides the vending machine companies for promoting their junk food and schools because they get a lot of money from the junk food they are selling which means that more students get help benefitting from these junk food companies.
Junk food companies may provide rewards or scholarships to students with good achievement. In the article Corporate Sponsorships in Schools by Andrew F. Smith he talks about the support some of these junk food companies give to the students and to the school. They help the school a lot because some of these junk food companies like Pizza Hut will provide educational programs for students something that maybe the school would not have money to afford and just because they are selling their food they can easily get that. Having junk food will also benefit the students because they will offer them scholarships for their achievement. Without the support of these junk food companies many students and schools will loose the programs that are necessary for them or get the scholarships they so much depend on. These junk food companies give the people in the school a great opportunity and all they are being asked to is to sell their junk food so they can get advertised.
Some students have abandoned school meal programs that tried to force healthy options. In the article School Cafeterias to Try Psychology in Lunch Line it stated that many students have abandoned school meal programs that tried to force healthy options because they do not like being told what they should eat or should not. This affects the students and the school because students at middle school age and high school age students know or have and idea of what is healthy and unhealthy to eat and the school does its job by selling healthy food as well as junk food for those who prefer buy either or. When the school tries to just sell healthy food and do not have variations on the type of food people like to eat students will stop buying any food from the school affecting both the school and students. Students do not like to be told what to eat by their age they have a good idea of what they like or don’t like or if its good or not good for them.
Middle and high schools should sell junk food in the cafeteria, in vending machines, and at athletic events on school property. By selling the junk food it would give students rewards, give the school cash, and stop students from abandoning school meal programs. If you want to help and decrease obesity because of vending machines inform yourself online about healthy habits and encourage others to do the same. If you are one of those people that are really bothered by junk food in vending machines talk with the principle and figure something out that you would be happier with.
