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School Lunch
"Two years before, my dad was diagnosed with Type II diabetes. I remember thinking I don't want anyone else in my family to die or to become sick."
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By Miriam Archibong
America’s junk food culture and obesity rates are regularly making headlines. Changing the eating habits of young people has become a national issue, with school districts across the country banning junk food and vending machines on campus. In some schools in Georgia, administrators are getting parents involved, allowing them to track their kids’ eating habits online. Youth Radio’s Miriam Archibong took matters into her own hands at her school in Atlanta, where she helped transform the cafeteria before graduating in May. (November 18 on Georgia Public Radio)
I decided to take a stand against my school's lunch options this year.
I had already made a change in my own life to become a devoted, full-time vegan. It took me two years to stop eating meat, but I was motivated by my family history. In 1999, my grandfather died from complications of diabetes. Two years before, my dad was diagnosed with Type II diabetes. I remember thinking I don't want anyone else in my family to die or to become sick. I switched to a vegetarian lifestyle because I wanted to live a long and healthy life. For me, eating cafeteria food was as forbidden as the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. But that’s not the end of the story.
I set two goals for myself this year: to become student body president, and to start a vegetarian club. I achieved both.
One of my responsibilities as student body president included reading the daily lunch menu on the morning announcements. I was appalled by the high calorie and unhealthy cafeteria options for students. Once the newly established Grady High School Vegetarian Club was meeting on a weekly basis, we decided to focus on convincing school administrators to add vegetarian lunch items to the school menu.
I knew that to convince my school, we’d have to build a strong case. After gathering information, I brought my concerns to my school principal and to representatives from Sodexho, the cafeteria private food provider.
Within a few weeks, my school was the first high school in metro Atlanta to have vegetarian meals. The food provider asked for my help with menus. With almost four years of vegetarianism under my belt, I dove right in. We discussed meal options like tofu stir fry, veggie burgers, veggie chicken, black beans and rice, and hummus. For the first time in my high school career, I was a regular cafeteria customer. And, to be quite frank, the food wasn't half bad. Pretty soon, hundreds of students opted for the veggie lunches.
Thanks to my grandfather and my dad, there are a lot more students eating healthier cafeteria food, and learning the secrets of living healthier lives.
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