099: They're Killing Our Children

Over the past decade, there has been a marked decline in the health of our children as well as an increase in obesity. According to the CDC, in 2018, the prevalence of obesity was 19.3% (14.4 million) children and adolescents. As well, obesity percentages increase with age and race. It's well documented that obesity puts anyone at a much higher risk for highly preventable diseases. Children are innocent victims with the prevalence of profits over people initiatives by the food industry. With food manufacturers continuing to produce unhealthy choices for consumers, this has had a major trickle-down impact on the overall school lunch programs throughout the United States. While many parents are not even aware of how unhealthy the school food programs actually are, one woman who is on a mission to change the way children are fed in schools is Maria Solanki. Trying a number of ways to have an impact, including completing a 500-page charter school application that took years to completed due to the complexity of the research involved, Maria turned the denial of the application as fuel for her life's work; improve the food selections within the school system in her area. From a concerned mother to a political candidate, Maria is merely scratching the surface of the changes she plans to be a part of through her political platform. http://www.mariaforstudents.com