I am a 14 year old middle school student who is served mostly junk food in school cafeterias - a diet that contributed to a shocking weight gain of 15 pounds despite my consistent after school sports including volleyball, basketball and taekwondo. This personal experience fuels my passion to advocate for healthier school lunches for all kids across the nation.

It is disturbing to know that many school lunch programs still heavily involve high-fat, high-sugar meals, corresponding with the rising trend of childhood obesity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents aged 2–19 years was 18.5% in 2015-2016, affecting about 13.7 million individuals. One of the contributing factors is definitely the types of meals served in school cafeterias.

In my experience as a middle school student, I have never seen vegetables actively on our plate, they are always optional and kids never eat them. They always go to waste. We are served pizza, burgers, and fried chicken sandwiches for lunch and pizza sticks and bagels with cream cheese for snack. Barely choosing the healthiest of these options for both meals is not healthy. Kids see these options and tend to eat them as they are great examples of comfort food. It also surprises me that many other countries offer much better lunches even though they make way less money and have a smaller gdp.

The importance of a balanced diet for school-aged children cannot be overstressed; a nutritious lunch can significantly improve a child's cognitive functioning and academic performance. Moreover, childhood is a critical period for establishing eating habits that can lay the basis for a healthier future. Studies show that children with obesity have a higher chance to be obese as adults. 

This petition urges the Department of Education and relevant stakeholders to prioritize the addition of healthier school lunch programs. We should ensure that our schools are places that encourage wellness, not contribute to changes in children's health that could lead to long-term, chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.

My solution to this problem would be to add cooked vegetables on the plate, most kids like them and they can go well with things like chicken and rice, a very healthy meal option that isn't too expensive to produce. 

It's time we give us elementary, middle, and hish schoolers the proper nutrition we deserve. Sign this petition for healthier school lunches today.