Schools in Texas Use Virtual Tool to Promaote Healthy Eating in the Cafeteria
http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/diet.fitness/08/29/virtual.cafeteria.ap/index.html

I recently read an article on the efforts of a Dallas Texas school to bring nutrition information directly to children and their parents through the Internet. This interactive program offers nutrition information on the foods that are served in the school cafeteria. The program is directed particularly towards children and has an interactive lunch lady that tells them which foods are "go foods", "slow foods", and "whoa foods". Because it provides the full cafeteria menu as well as nutrition information, it allows parents to more closely keep an eye on what their children are consuming on a regular basis.
This movement towards healthier eating in the school cafeteria has progressed rapidly over the years. I spent my Freshman year in a public highschool in San Antonio, Texas. My school enforced a new policy in the cafeteria that year. They removed all soda and "snack" vending machines, and replaced them with ones that has healthier options, such as milk, juice, water, granola bars, peanuts, etc. They also provided healthier options in the cafeteria serving a larger variety of salads, whole wheat products, fruit, yogurt, and more un-fried options. However, due to student demand, many "junk" foods stayed on the menu, but at a higher price.
I am so glad that public schools are beginning to take note of the nutritional health of their students. Studies show that eating healthy balanced meals before and during school helps students to perform academically at a much higher level. It also helps children to form healthy eating habits at a young age, and make them less likely to eat unhealthily as they grow older. I am especially impressed by this new virtual nutrition guide. If schools around the nation can provide healthy alternatives to "junk food", as well as adequate nutrition information for all of the menu items, it will give students the ingredients to grow into healthy, nutrition conscious adults.

Temporarily Free Health Care in the Wake of Hurricane Katrina
http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/09/16/katrina.healthcare.ap/index.html

As the refugees of Hurricane Katrina deal with the chaos and destruction of the storm, they are finding a blessing amidst the madness. Medical care is being distributed to all who are in need, even those without health insurance. Many of those with out health insurance are taking advantage of this free opportunity to address health problems that they could not afford to deal with in the past. Many are being diagnosed with an array of chronic illnesses such as, diabetes and heart disease. For the refugees who lack health insurance, this has been an opportunity that may possibly save their lives. They have been diagnosed, and are currently being treated with medication, at no cost to them.
However, the problem lies in the temporary aspect of this free health care. Without alteration of the government’s health insurance program, this free care will end quickly. Those without health insurance will once again be left to fend for themselves. The treatment and medication that they have received will abruptly come to an end.
This current incident has brought up an issue that has plagued the United States for years.
We as a nation are once again asking, "should health care be free?" In the wake of this storm, we are reminded that many of our fellow citizens suffer every day with health problems because they cannot afford health care. Is this right? Should a country as wealthy as the United States deny it’s poor citizens medical diagnoses and treatment? For those who can afford medical insurance, it is easy to defend privately run medical system that is in place today. We enjoy the benefits of a program that allows us easy and timely access to a physician of our choice, and any treatment or medication that we need at the price of a small co-pay. However, what about those people who simply cannot afford the cost of health insurance? Should we allow them to be left behind for the sake of our comfort and convenience? Or, should we as a nation try to adapt our system so that all may receive needed medical care for free? Is it not the governments’s job to care for its citizens without care of their economic standing? And is it right for those of us who can afford health care to remain silent? We as a nation should take a stand to make sure that all citizens receive equal treatment, that is concept on which our nation has been based upon.

Psychologically Troubled Children in the Wake of Katrina

http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/conditions/09/09/katrina.traumatized.kids.ap/index.html
As we re-acclimate to life after Hurricane Katrina, it is easy to allow ourselves to become numb to the tragedy that has just so recently occurred. We crave a return to normalcy, to peace, to a television that is not plagued with story after story of death and destruction. The daily reminders slip slowly away as we regain our power, our access to gasoline, and groceries, our daily routines. I do not think that we are wrong for doing so. It is a natural process of healing, necessary for progress. But, as we move into an existence that is slightly more normal, I cannot help but notice that there is an undercurrent of adolescents who are still profoundly affected by this disaster.
A few evenings ago, I spoke with my little brother Kyle on the telephone. He is in Kindergarten, and lives with his father in San Antonio, Texas. I was surprised to discover how concerned he was about the storm. He told me about how he had seen all of the stories on the news, he was terribly worried about us and our house, and he kept asking if a hurricane could come to San Antonio. It was worrisome to me to realize the impressionability of the little ones who have been affected by the storm directly. Here my five year old brother was, fretting about the storm’s repercussions, as he sat safely in his home hundreds of miles away from the actual disaster.
I was reminded of the subject later, upon reading a CNN article about child psychologists being bused in to help the victims of the storm cope. It was a sad realization to think of the horrible things some of these children have been through. These children have been bombarded with death, trauma, starvation, illness, destruction, and the realization that they may never go home. The situations that they have had to bare can hardly be tolerated by full grown adults. I wonder, how will this change a generation of Southerners? These children will be plagued with stress and trauma disorders, possibly for the rest of their lives. They have been forced to grow up, and leave their innocence behind. It is heart breaking to think of such things, the tragedy of a lost youth. I must commend the psychologist who have made it a priority to begin a slow process to attempt to help these children cope. They are highly outnumbered, but as with all healing efforts, it will take time for them to reach out to everyone.
As a sister city of New Orleans, we have seen a floodgate of her people poor into our home. As our schools open their doors for these child refugees, we must open our arms. Only time, love, and lots of help will help these children heal. But as a Gulf Coast community, and as a nation, it is our responsibility to provide these elements of aid to the future adults of the South.