Sarah Ippolito, Grade 11, St. Mary’s

Remember the days when the birthday boy would bring in cupcakes for his class? Or when the little girls would hand out chocolate hearts on Valentine’s Day? Well, those memories should be savoured, because soon sugars and fats will simply be sweet memories in Ontario schools.

Taking full effect on September 1, 2011, all Ontario schools must abide by the government’s new food and beverage policy. This means saying goodbye to the French fries and cookies from the cafeteria, and the candy and pop in the vending machines. All of these changes sound reasonable – it is unnecessary for children to continually eat foods high in sugars, salt, fat, and cholesterol – but has the government gone too far? It is understandable that, with the rising obesity rates, greater efforts must be put towards healthy lifestyles in children and adolescents, but the government is approaching this issue in the wrong way. The government is attempting to take the place of the parent, enforcing healthier eating habits. But how effective can this enforcement be when children can still bring their unhealthy snacks from home, or go out to a fast food restaurant and purchase an even larger serving size of a banned food? As well, the policy prohibits any kind of muffins, even low fat muffins, baked goods, large chocolate milks, and any unhealthy goodies sold at bake sales.

This ban focuses on all of the less nutritious things offered in schools, such as the pizza, bagels, lemonade, and caffeinated drinks. However, the government fails to acknowledge that almost all schools already offer a balanced or healthier options menu; it is a student’s choice to purchase an unhealthy option like poutine over a more nutritious meal, such as a salad. The government must realize that educating the public on making healthy choices is more important that denying children and staff an occasional treat. Who are the government members to say that studentsmust change their eating habits – the food police?