A Junk Food Fight: Should the Government Get Involved?
Federal legislation banning junk food from schools is soon to be introduced. Will something as powerful as the federal government work to keep junk foods out of schools? Or is the answer to childhood obesity a more traditional approach with parents teaching their kids good eating habits? Parents want nutritious foods served, but removing vending machines and candy sales cuts into a major source of revenue for schools. Are there more creative ways to raise money for sports uniforms and school trips?
When kids spend the majority of their day at school and are left to make their own choices about what to eat, many will choose a high sugar, high calorie option over one that is more nutritious. Do we leave these choices up to the students or let the government make these choices for them?
Read this article from the New York Times for more info. Please comment and let your opinion be heard.
I think that it’s going to take a lot to remedy the obesity epidemic. To me this means educating children in school. I believe that if children are taught the proper things, they sometimes take that new and exciting information home and share it with their parents. If the parents don’t seem to be educated in the ways of proper eating habits, they might learn something from their children. If their parents are already knowledgable in this area, then it reinforces proper eating habits.
It would also help if the schools put healtier options in vending machines. In my high school, those machines had nothing but junk. The healthiest option was a pack of fruit snacks.
I really believe this should change, which is why I’m trying to do everything in my power to fix our broken system.
As a Mom of 3, I ensure my house is stocked with whole, organic foods and healthier, organic snacks. It gets frustrating to hear my kids can by chips and fries and pizza at school and they sometimes will. That kind of junk food is OK in moderation, but when it’s an everyday thing…notsomuch. I do believe that schools should offer fresh local - preferably organic -fruits and vegetables, meats and fish, nuts and beans, etc…and have a minimal amount of organic, minimally processed snack foods. The argument about vending machines filled with junk food and soda being a source of revenue is ridiculous….just fill the vending machines with healthy food and water - they’ll buy it!
The gov’t and food industry are in the same bed together. We need to be responsible and make the choices ourselves…Good article.