Read this additional information about the costs and benefits of healthy lunch programs, and identify the pros and cons that are discussed. Decision: change the school lunch program to include healthy foods

You have done some additional research. You learned that schools with healthy lunch programs have lower rates of childhood obesity and diabetes than schools without such programs. These same students also performed better in academics and sports.

You also learned that maintaining the freshness of food is difficult. Produce often spoils or is damaged in transport. Also, schools lack the adequate space needed to store fresh ingredients.

Identify whether each is a cost or a benefit.

Spoiled food

Damaged food

Better athletics

Better academics

Less diabetes

Lower obesity

Suitable storage? HELP!

Costs: Spoiled food, damaged food, suitable storage. Benefits: Better athletics, better academics, less diabetes, lower obesity

Explanation: A cost refers to something that is paid, invested, or gave up when an alternative is chosen. On the other hand, a benefit refers to a positive effect related to a decision or election. In this context, elements such as spoiled food, damaged food, and suitable storage are costs of including healthy food in the school lunch, considering this is the "price" for including healthy food as this needs to be stored correctly and the risk it spoils or damages is higher.

On the other hand, elements such as better athletics or academics as well as less diabetes and obesity are benefits or positive effects because these factors increase the health of students; this is explained in "schools with healthy lunch programs have lower rates of childhood obesity and diabetes better in academics and sports".