Argumentative Essay 1: Junk Food Final Draft

Junk food is any food that is perceived to be unhealthy and of low nutritional value (Smith 2005). It embraces any fast food, instant noodles, potato chips and chocolate bars that raise the kilojoule intake (Tran 2005). Indubitably the selling of them at canteen will generate more profit than selling of regular food does (School News 2005). Nonetheless, it has caused health problems to children as well due to its high fat, salt, sugar and synthetic flavour contents. This may lead to obesity which in turn causes heart diseases, osteoarthritis and some cancers in the future (Tran 2005). Hence, it should be banned as the health problems trigger more serious cost that outweighs the advantages it brings. Moreover, sale of junk food in school will also lead to nutrition deficiency, behavioural and litter problems.
The sale of junk food in school can be directly linked to nutritional deficiency among youngsters. The selling of junk food in school will make the children to have wrong perspective that junk food can be eaten anywhere whenever they like without any consequences (Reynolds 2005). With junk food readily available in the school daily, students may not get sufficient nutrients needed for healthy development and growth, thus reducing their learning potential (The Food Show 2005). It has been shown that the nutritional value of food eaten by Australian children has been falling progressively due to the increased availability of fast food especially in school (Tran 2005). Moreover, the Dental Association also calls for a ban in selling junk food in school as there is decline in dental health problems among children (Tran 2005).
Besides that, the sale of junk food in school will lead to behavioural problems in children. In order to enhance the flavour and appearance, most of the junk food contains chemicals additives and the consumption of it will cause hyperactivity and poor concentration among children (Smith 2005). Hence, it indirectly declines the learning potential of children (The Food Show 2005). Research has also shown that to improve children behaviours, unhealthy food like junk food should be reduced in their diets (Caputo 2005). Thus, with the ban of the sale of junk food in school, teachers notice that there is improvement in students’ behaviour (Green 2005).
Last but not least, the sale of junk food in school will lead to litter problems as well. Fast food packaging is a safety besides health hazard, causing pollution (Smith 2005). When junk food is sold in the canteen, the school will have major problem with litters such as cans, crisp packets, cartons and plastic containers and etc. This increases the cleaning cost and spoils the image of the community. With the ban of junk food is implemented, there will be reduction in litter and groundsmen will have more time to spend on maintenance project that benefits the school (Green 2005).
In a nutshell, the sale of junk food in school should be banned for the sake of disadvantages it brings. However, the banning itself is not efficacious enough as children may simply bring the junk food from their home to school. Hence educating youngsters good eating habits can make a difference and schools play a major role in it through healthy food policies (Tran 2005).