Japan’s secret weapon against childhood obesity: school lunches

Japan’s secret weapon against childhood obesity: school lunches(scmp.com)

6 points by atlas_shrugged 4 years ago | 3 comments

I can't read the actual article without turning on JS, but yes. In past lives I've both contracted with the USDA to study Americans' daily eating habits and worked in the Japanese public school system, and the quality of each country's child feed is night and day. The Japanese kids get fresh farm to table meals with plenty of fish. Never any fried chicken or pizza or burgers. The most exciting, junkiest food served is occasional curry. They also enjoy way more physical activity than American students.

It's one of those things that blows your mind as an American: a country taking an interest in the long term health of its population. It really underlined how despised we are by our own government.

Exceptions are made for kids with allergies. The article subtitle alludes to no religious exemptions, but I can't imagine any of the teachers I worked with forcing a Muslim kid to eat pork.

quantified 4 years ago | |

Except these US local governments that despise their own little kids are jumped all over when they try to change nutrition. They’ll make the recipes not appealing to the kids and the kids’ expectations are for the less-healthy stuff they get at home anyway. Remember how fast Michelle Obama’s programs got rolled back?

As you said: a country taking interest in the long-term health. Just that the country is made up of its people.

emteycz 4 years ago |

Makes sense, the school lunches I had were so terrible we threw at least half of them away after the first bite. Didn't stop the already fat kids from being fat anyways, though.