Bensalem, Pennsylvania, is a town of around 8,500 people located just east of Philadelphia. The town is a suburb of Philadelphia, with many of its residents commuting daily to jobs in the city. It is home to Temple University, one of the largest universities in the Philadelphia area.
The community has two public elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. These schools serve approximately 1,100 students, many of whom are from Bensalem or other suburbs.
The school system offers a range of options for parents to choose from, including both private and public options. One option is the school-sponsored lunch program, which offers parents and children a choice of a wide variety of pre-packaged food items.
The lunches are not only nutritious, but also come in a wide variety of options, so there is always something for everyone. However, this option can be costly, as some families in Bensalem have to spend upwards of $150 per month on lunches.
Another option available to families in Bensalem is to bring their own lunches to school. Many parents do this because they do not want their child to be exposed to certain foods and ingredients. Other parents opt to bring in their own lunches because they simply prefer to eat at home.
However, it is not easy to plan and pack a healthy meal at home, so many families in Bensalem opt to bring their children to school with them, often without the assistance of the school’s lunch program.
Schools and students throughout the US are preparing for the start of the new school year. While parents are busy getting ready for school, schools are preparing for students to arrive. One of the biggest concerns for schools is the amount of food being consumed by students. There are a variety of options available for school lunch programs, including healthy options and junk food. Some schools are implementing healthy options while others are still stuck on the traditional pizza and hot dogs. Here are some of the popular options.
Schools can offer a variety of food options for students to eat. Students have a choice of pizza, chicken nuggets, hamburgers, tacos, salad, sandwiches, and more. Some schools serve these foods for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Some schools have healthier options, but many still offer pizza and burgers. In some cases, schools may choose to give students money for snacks instead of food. This helps with budgeting and reduces food waste.
While some schools are choosing to switch to healthier options, many are still sticking with the traditional pizza and hamburgers. There are a variety of reasons why schools are still offering junk food. First, the price of the healthy options is more expensive than the traditional options. Schools often need to spend a significant amount of money to make the transition to healthier options. Second, schools don’t always have enough time to prepare and cook healthy options. Third, some schools are concerned about the students who want to eat unhealthy options. If students are going to eat a lot of junk food, then schools may as well feed them what they want.
The USDA is concerned about the amount of food students are consuming and the increase in obesity rates. In 2016, the average high school student consumed 1,972 calories per day. In 2017, that number increased to 2,046. The number of calories consumed increased by 7 percent between 2016 and 2017. The rise in obesity rates means more expensive healthcare costs.
To combat the obesity epidemic, the USDA has implemented changes to the school lunch program. In 2011, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act was passed. The law required schools to serve more whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. The act also required that 50 percent of the food be served in a healthy portion size. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act also established the School Nutrition Dietary Assessment Program. The SNDAP collects data from schools to evaluate the amount of food students consume and whether or not the food is prepared correctly. The data is used to evaluate the effectiveness of the school lunch program.