Sample Project

Let’s Get Healthy, Westlake! : 

Let’s Get Healthy, Westlake! A Proposition to Bring Delicious, Healthy Food to OUR High School

YUMMY BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE : 

YUMMY BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE • In the past two years, over 12 states have considered legislation limiting the availability of junk food in schools (Erickson). • Today’s teenagers are almost 3 times as likely to be overweight than they were 20 years ago (Smith).

MY IDEA : 

MY IDEA I believe we should get healthy here at Westlake High School! We should adopt a plan to bring healthier food options to our school.

WHO IS AFFECTED BY UNHEALTHY FOOD CHOICES? : 

WHO IS AFFECTED BY UNHEALTHY FOOD CHOICES? “A 2001 Surgeon General report found that 14 percent of American children are obese. This is compared with 4 percent in 1963. Some estimates show that percent could be over 30 percent by 2015” (Smith).

WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF UNHEALTHY FOOD CHOICES? : 

WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF UNHEALTHY FOOD CHOICES? A 2007 study found that 300,000 people die each year from obesity-related illnesses or conditions made worse by obesity. Junk foods, high in fat and sugar, contribute to weight gain and obesity, which in turn puts children at risk for diabetes, heart disease and other health problems” (Erickson).

WHERE DO STUDENTS EAT? : 

WHERE DO STUDENTS EAT? Researchers found that nearly 32 million children are fed daily through the school lunch program and nearly 11 million pupils are in the school breakfast program. So 2 major meals are consumed on school grounds each school day (Smith). Because of this, it is important for Westlake to offer healthier choices to students.

WHEN SHOULD THIS HAPPEN? : 

WHEN SHOULD THIS HAPPEN? “On March 18, 2010, U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln proposed a bill that would ban selling junk food at school” (Smith). Although the bill has not yet passed, it has caused a lot of good discussion about what type of food should be offered at public schools.

WHY SHOULD WE DO THIS? : 

WHY SHOULD WE DO THIS? Eating lots of sugary food makes students less able to pay attention in class or perform well on tests (Erickson) Parents should monitor a child’s diet, but while a student is away from their parents, the school must function as a parent and do what is best for the students. While the parents cannot be there to oversee a student’s meals, a school should make sure those meals do not include junk food (Smith). Schools should set a good example of nutritious eating for students. This would fit in well with nutrition curriculum in health classes (Erickson).

HOW CAN WE DO THIS? : 

HOW CAN WE DO THIS? Step 1: Rally Support I will create a petition to show that students, parents and teachers want healthier food options Step 2: Receive Cost Estimates I will contact local healthy vendors and find out how much they would really charge for their products Step 3: Present Data I will meet with the administration and even the school board to propose my idea

WORKS CITED : 

WORKS CITED Erickson, Susan. “Should Schools Ban Junk Food?”. Education Monthly. April 2010. Smith, Ron. “A National Food Crisis”. NY Times. May 2010.