What I would like to learn from my paper

- First, what is your research question? Write it out.

Are the lunches being served in school cafeteria’s causing obesity in children?

- How would you currently respond to this question, based on your gut emotions and experiences?

I don’t think that the lunches have much to do with childhood obesity. I do think that the food served does not have the best nutritional value but it can not be blamed for obesity.

When I was growing up I was always outside. I was very active and played a lot. I would get upset when it started getting dark out and I knew I had to go in for the night. My mom did not really see me until dinner time. I know that this is true for my father’s generation as well. The difference between then and now is that we did not have the technology that children have today. I think that technology has made children lazy. There is so much out there and so many new things coming out every day that it draws the kids in. They would rather be inside playing video games, watching TV, or sitting in front of the computer. Who needs to go outside and make friends or play with existing friends when you can do that from your computer on Facebook? This is what is causing the obesity in children. Technology. Children do not get the exercise that we use to.

I also think that families are busier now than they used to be. We used to have a sit down dinner every night that my mom made for us. I think families now go out to dinner a lot more. Or are too busy to cook so they pop something into the microwave because it is quick and easy.

- What do you think people with other viewpoints would say in response to your question?

Some people will probably disagree and say that the school lunches are the cause of obesity. The lunches have no nutritional value and therefore are no good for the kids.

- What else do you want to find out to gain a working knowledge and some credibility on this issue?

I really want to look at the statistics of obesity over the last 20 years. I feel like that is when the technology really started to pick up. It would be interesting to see the rate of new technology coming out compared to the increase in obesity. I would also like to do some research and see what really is being served in lunchrooms.