October 7, 2011
Letter: Time to step up to the plate
To the editor: The new Harvard "Healthy Eating Plate," which improves upon the recommended USDA's "MyPlate," unequivocally says that we must "avoid bacon, cold cuts, and other processed meats." Nutritionists at Harvard say that eating "even small quantities of these foods on a regular basis raises the risk of heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer and weight gain." School lunch menus, however, continue to include such foods. In Danvers elementary schools, for example, hot dogs and deli turkey are offered as a "daily sandwich." In middle school and high school, students can choose a hot dog every day. Liberally sprinkled throughout the menus for all children are sausages, pastrami and other deli meats. If we are to fight obesity and promote the health of our children, we must begin to follow the advice of experts. We must start offering a healthful school lunch. Sally Ann Connolly Danvers