These meals provide essential nutrients to help ensure that all students receive adequate nourishment for both physical and cognitive development. Since some of the risk factors for major chronic diseases have origins in childhood, early intervention in the formation of good eating habits enables a lifetime of good health, helping to prevent health problems later in life. We recognize that good nutrition plays a major roll in the prevention of coronary heart disease, stroke, atherosclerosis, diabetes and some types of cancer, five of the ten leading causes of death in Americans.
Poor nutrition plays a role in retarding mental and physical development.
The longer a child's needs are not met, the greater the chance of permanent cognitive impairment. Hungry children perform lower on standardized tests and hunger and under-nutrition are related to tiredness and low academic performance. Mr. Foppe serves as the Food Service Director for both the Fort Jackson schools and the Laurel Bay schools. There are three schools with supporting cafeterias at Ft Jackson and two schools, each with a supporting cafeteria at Laurel Bay. The five cafeterias operate under a seven-week cyclical menu offering nutritious, palatable meals in accordance with the national school lunch program.