Why We Must Teach Health and Nutrition in Schools
Why We Must Teach Health and Nutrition in Schools
I am currently in my 20th year as a high school History teacher, but I have found myself teaching about fitness, health and nutrition as much as I do History, and solely because my students need to be informed so they can live full and healthy lives. I know that many of you are thinking that it is the job of a Physical Education teacher to teach students about health and nutrition, and you technically are right, but their time is so limited that it is nearly impossible for them to get into detail about nutrition in general.
Statistically, we are seeing an epidemic and health crisis, especially with American youth, and it should be concerning to everyone. Studies suggest that by 2050, 1 out of every 3 Americans will be diabetic – the majority of which will be American youth. There are so many factors that are likely the cause of this emerging epidemic: lack of activity, accessibility to cheap and poor quality food, and increase in sugar intake amongst youth, but the common theme is that young adults are not nearly as knowledgeable on health and nutrition as they should be and therefore are not equipped to make informed decisions.
I find myself teaching monthly lessons about nutrition, healthy eating habits, and not falling victim to the mass marketing campaigns of fast food companies that target children and young adults, and are a big part of the problem. Between teaching my students about healthy choices and learning how to be aware of marketing campaigns, it is almost impossible to provide students with the information that they need in school, and so many parents and guardians are having the same difficulties, or they are not as informed as they need to be to best guide their children.
There are so many people trying to reimagine schools and education, and trying to create a learning environment that not only provides students with the tools that they need to succeed in the 21st century, but with the knowledge that they need to live a full and healthy life. Which is why it is so important that schools provide classes and resources to students that focus on nutrition and overall health. If the intention of school is to help prepare students for their futures, teaching them about health, nutrition, and making informed decisions on their food choices is as essential as English, Math, and even History.
I strongly encourage parents and guardians to ask their child’s teachers and school administrators about what they are doing to teach their child about health and nutrition, and if they aren’t– encourage them to do so and try to support any school programs that are attempting to solve this problem.