Are school meals contributing to the problem of overweight children in North Carolina?
A. No. There are many factors causing the problem of overweight and obese children in our state. Of all the factors, there are several that seem to have the biggest impact: lack of physical activity; too much TV; too many soft drinks; out-of-control portion sizes; too many meals away from home; and not enough fruits and vegetables. School meals provide an opportunity to address some of these problems. Soft drinks are not allowed in elementary schools, portion sizes are the right size for children and there are plenty of fruits and vegetables.
