Posted on: Sunday, October 26, 2003

EDITORIAL
School students can learn healthy eating

We're glad to hear the U.S. Agriculture Department is buying up record amounts of fruits and vegetables to raise the nutritional value of school lunch programs.

Childhood obesity remains a problem in Hawai'i, where the rate is twice the national average.

Around the country, 15 percent of children are overweight.

Some lawmakers here have looked at banning or at least limiting the sale of unhealthy snacks in schools while expanding physical education and nutrition programs.

That's a good start.

Bear in mind, though, that preparing food for children that they'll actually eat can be a challenge.

It would be so easy if kids were satisfied with apples, salad, fish, chicken and pasta. But most are drawn to high-sodium, high-fat snacks, cookies and candy. Why do you think typical school lunches include pizza, burgers and fries?

That doesn't mean there's no room for compromise. For example, macaroni salad can be made with ricotta cheese rather than mayonnaise.

Plus, kids who snack on fruits and vegetables, say, carrots and apples, can develop a craving for healthy snacks just as they crave candy bars and potato chips. Balance and moderation are the secret to good nutrition.