By: Diana Barnes-Brown for Reflux1For any parent who has lamented the loss of control over their children’s nutrition once the bus pulls away in the morning, a technological advancement in school dining promises to put minds at ease.
Now, computer tracking systems connected to students’ pre-paid cafeteria meal plans can display special codes when children choose junk food over veggies. Once a food restriction pops up, the cashier can remind the child of his parents’ rules.
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Children and Obesity
Childhood risks of obesity include diabetes, heart and respiratory problems, high blood pressure, and sleeping difficulties.
Children who are overweight may also experience depression and other emotional symptoms if their weight makes it difficult for them to participate in normal childhood activities.
Lack of proper nutrition can lead to a wide array of consequences, some temporary and some permanent. Common ones include: growth disorders, mood disorders, skin problems, lowered immunity or susceptibility to certain illnesses.
Improper nutrition can be caused by an improper balance of vitamins and minerals, or too much or little food from each of the major food groups.
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Cafeteria automation systems, until recently reserved for the post-secondary set, are becoming increasingly viable as school districts look for ways to increase efficiency and decrease spending on non-academic programs.But while children may like the mock-credit system and schools do save, many parents are hoping that increased technology will mean increased supervision, even when kids are not in their parents’ line of sight.
This is just what may happen in Houston public schools, whose large student population makes a cash-based dining system a cumbersome choice. Cybersoft Technologies, locally based software company, has developed a program called Primero Food Services Solutions, which not only keeps track of student meal accounts, but allows parents to build in restrictions if they want.
Restrictions can be added for food allergies or family food rules, and are appealing because they can take some of pressure of saying “No” off of weary parents. And, in a country whose number of obese children between the ages of 6 and 11 has more than doubled since 1986, the risks of poor dietary habits are no small penalty for saying “yes” more than “no.”
But while many hail the system as a great version of remote control child care, there are some concerns – first, since the system requires computer set-up or visits to the school food services office, parents who don’t own computers or who must work at times that schools are open may find they’re left behind when it comes to using the new systems. Also, some worry that by taking the decision-making process away from children, they will have little prior learning to go on when not restricted as older children or adults.
In any event, what is clear is that in addition to the expansion of worldwide connections made possible by the technological growth of recent years, parents’ reach is getting longer when it comes to deciding on their children’s eating, viewing and chatting behaviors. What remains to be seen is whether the long arms of technology can reach far enough to cinch problem eaters’ belts a little tighter.
