Schools Urged to Ban Junk Food

[LisaM 0]

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070426222511.htm

What do you all think? As a parent to a child who loves junk food (found to be chewing sugar gum at 7:30 in the morning last week), I do like the idea.

But in a debate about it, the point was brought up that those deprived will crave it more. Those allowed junk food in moderation will learn moderation.

In my son's class (5th grade) they celebrate each kid's birthday. That means 24 times in a 8 month time frame these kids are loaded up on cake/doughnuts/cupcakes and sugar juice. This does not include the Valentine Party, or Christmas or Easter... etc etc.

It's a bit frustrating trying to teach him good habits at home and finding out all the crap he ate while at school.

I do the "everything in moderation" route, but I think school ruins that for me. He is far from obese as he gets lots of exercise, but he's not learning good habits.

~ Lisa
~ Do you Rigminder?

[sundevil777 102]

I think it is a good idea.

Of course lots of food can be said to be unhealthy, but calories from added sugar is sooo bad. Of course their parents can feed them crap all day long at home, but they shouldn't be able to buy it at school.

Your kid will have good habits regardless. They could celebrate birthdays with stuff that wasn't so loaded with empty calories. I pack both of my kid's lunch (5th and 8th grade) everyday, they usually get juice, but it doesn't have any added sugar.

People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

[DFWAJG 4]

Not only does bad eating habits contribute to obesity, but there has also been research indicating that processed food is linked to violence. a recent news story that I saw, spoke of the dietary items served in schools and how violent some of the kids are. In a school where there is a last ditch effort to save these kids, the foods served are far supirior to the foods served at the regular schools. these kids were no longer violent and were able to concentrate better in school. their overall performance went up.

I remember in school that everyfriday, we had chocolate milk. that was our treat. everything else we ate was cooked fresh in the cafeteria and was wholesome and nutritious. there were only two or three obese kids in the entire school. (this was 30 years ago).

Since becoming a raw vegan (no animal products, jus fruit, veges, nuts, seeds, grains and algaes) my mood is better, I require less sleep, have more energy even when I can't sleep and overall feel and look healthier than I've ever been.

[BillyVance 35]

So who was the one "bad idea" vote??? Probably some fat ass.

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[LisaM 0]

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So who was the one "bad idea" vote??? Probably some fat ass.

No, some kid got into mommy's account.

~ Lisa
~ Do you Rigminder?

[Nightingale 0]

This is a good idea, mostly. Stuff sold in the cafeteria should be healthy. No soda, no caffeine, no aspartame. Celebrating children's birthdays a couple of times a month with one cupcake per kid isn't a big deal. Kids should be able to bring whatever they want to eat from home, but they should be able to buy only healthy food at school.

[freeflybella 0]

My son and I are vegan. He gets NO sugar and no TV either. And he has no desire for it. He doesn't see me eating it or watching TV (I wait til he goes to bed) so he doesn't want it.

Every now and then I'll buy a bag of (organic, fruit sweetened) cookies but he just has no sweet tooth. Olives. He could eat olives by the pound.

Also, every so often at Grandma's (the TV is on constantly) she'll turn it to Elmo or Barney or something - to try to "prove" to me that I'm depriving him... Nope. Won't watch TV.

(I'm sure when he hits school age he'll see other kids eating crap and want to try it. You better believe I'm going to let him otherwise he'll be an addict in no time!)

Hospitals and schools should not be feeding people anything but healthy, fresh food.

Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

[freeflybella 0]

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But in a debate about it, the point was brought up that those deprived will crave it more. Those allowed junk food in moderation will learn moderation.

I think this is a terrible argument for junk food in schools. There is no supervision (to moderate) junk food in schools. Parents should moderate junk food.

Additionally, there is only so much time in the day for a kid. If they are "deprived" of junk food all day - it's not as if they are going to come home at 3 and binge on twinkies til bedtime. Especially if the parents are modeling good eating habits by not keeping twinkies in the house.

http://www.feingold.org/PF/wisconsin1.html

Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

[LisaM 0]

How old is your son?

~ Lisa
~ Do you Rigminder?

[freeflybella 0]

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How old is your son?

2.

I in no way meant to imply that my way was the right way or best way. But obviously I live by my beliefs and values. Also I do know that I have alot to experience and learn.
I do strongly believe that no matter what you allow or disallow as a parent that schools and hospitals should not serve junk.

Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

[DFWAJG 4]

That's interesting that you mention HOSPITALS. Many VA's have Burger Kings in the cafeteria. ugh!

[LisaM 0]

[email]

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How old is your son?

2.

I in no way meant to imply that my way was the right way or best way. But obviously I live by my beliefs and values. Also I do know that I have alot to experience and learn.
I do strongly believe that no matter what you allow or disallow as a parent that schools and hospitals should not serve junk.

It was easier when my son was younger. As a kindergardener and maybe through about third grade, he ate what I gave him. Now he comes home with all sorts of wrappers in his pocket. When I ask where he got it, oh it was an afterschool snack or his friend had an extra.

It's great that you are instilling this in him when he is so young.

~ Lisa
~ Do you Rigminder?

[mnealtx 0]

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That's interesting that you mention HOSPITALS. Many VA's have Burger Kings in the cafeteria. ugh!

Most *BASES* have Burger King, Pizza Hut, Popeyes, Taco Bell, etc...

Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

[idrankwhat 0]

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I pack both of my kid's lunch (5th and 8th grade) everyday, they usually get juice, but it doesn't have any added sugar.

But I'll bet the bread does. I've been amazed to see how prominently "high fructose corn syrup" is listed in lots of different breads, or actually anything for that matter. That crap is everywhere.

[ladydyver 0]

There is a reason our nation suffers from obesity - diabetes - and Coronary Artery disease; We are a nation on the go and therefore have been teaching our children to eat things that are quick and easy - drive thru/processed foods that are easy to make but not necessarily the healthiest - in addition, cost of produce is out of the roof right now - 2$ for a red bell pepper at the grocery store the other day. It makes it tough to feed your kids a healthier diet if you have limited resources - ok, off my soap box for now

DPH # 2
"I am not sure what you are suppose to do with that, but I don't think it is suppose to flop around like that." ~Skootz~
I have a strong regard for the rules.......doc!

[ExAFO 0]

Kids do not have a right to sugary and fatty foods. They should ban them. A little proactive public policy saves millions in healthcare costs...

Illinois needs a CCW Law. NOW.

[kelpdiver 2]

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My son and I are vegan. He gets NO sugar and no TV either. And he has no desire for it. He doesn't see me eating it or watching TV (I wait til he goes to bed) so he doesn't want it.

During the most extreme point of my parent's hippie phase, the home environment was no TV (none existed), and no food with artificial colors or preservatives. Red meat was basically off the table and my primary protein sources were tofu, fish, and ground turkey as the beef substitute. For me, this was late grade school - maybe 3rd-6th?

But the reality was that we adapted - kept our candy out of sight, caught TV at friends's houses and from the TV in the shed in the backyard (till an unfortunate fire in the alley took it out).

Remove the total crap from the schools and kids will still get some level of it. But part of the day, they'll eat a bit better than they would otherwise. In Jr high I recall eating a 'lunch' that was an ItsIt surrounded by two large cookies. Sounds hilarious now.

(Selling caffeine free diet coke as the only cola option seems cruel.)

[freeflybella 0]

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My son and I are vegan. He gets NO sugar and no TV either. And he has no desire for it. He doesn't see me eating it or watching TV (I wait til he goes to bed) so he doesn't want it.

During the most extreme point of my parent's hippie phase, the home environment was no TV (none existed), and no food with artificial colors or preservatives. Red meat was basically off the table and my primary protein sources were tofu, fish, and ground turkey as the beef substitute. For me, this was late grade school - maybe 3rd-6th?

But the reality was that we adapted - kept our candy out of sight, caught TV at friends's houses and from the TV in the shed in the backyard (till an unfortunate fire in the alley took it out).

Remove the total crap from the schools and kids will still get some level of it. But part of the day, they'll eat a bit better than they would otherwise. In Jr high I recall eating a 'lunch' that was an ItsIt surrounded by two large cookies. Sounds hilarious now.

(Selling caffeine free diet coke as the only cola option seems cruel.)

Totally. I remember eating packages of grape Kool-Aid powder with a candy stick-like spoon!

Then again, I was raised on bologna (back when bologna only contained snouts and assholes) and "cheese" slices on Wonder Bread (contained lard).

I don't plan to ban this food completely - he's a boy - he needs a sugar high once or twice in life. But for me, they key is to keep it out of the house as a rule.

Still say NO soda, candy, or even ANY processed (no additives, dyes, chemicals) food in schools and hospitals.

Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

[wmw999 2,589]

I agree that he'll go get it on his own. I also agree that it's a good thing to be raised without. We didn't have a TV most of the time when I was a kid (we lived overseas), and while we would go to the neighbor's to watch, we still did a whole lot more playing among us than we otherwise would have. And that's a good thing.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)