Posted on 09/29/2005 5:51:46 PM PDT by neverdem
The government yesterday unveiled the first "food pyramid" specifically aimed at children 6 to 11 years old, hoping that sound dietary advice combined with an interactive online game featuring a rocket ship will help combat the growing obesity epidemic among children.
The new dietary guide looks nearly identical to the adult version, which was revised and updated this year by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It also underscores the same nutritional messages: Eat more fruit and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, and lean protein; leave a little room for some healthful fat, such as nuts, avocados and olive oil; and limit processed food and drinks, especially products loaded with calories, unhealthful fat and added sugar, including soft drinks and fried fast food.
Boosting physical activity is another key message of the children's pyramid, just as it is for adults. Youngsters are urged to get at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily -- twice the minimum amount recommended for adults who are at a healthy weight.
"I am pleased that they emphasized food and physical activity," said former U.S. surgeon general David Satcher, "and I'm especially pleased that they are including messages for teachers to use in schools, where children spend more than 1,000 hours each year. . . . It's an important step forward, but we need to keep stepping."
Critics said the new pyramid for children does not go nearly far enough in encouraging the kind of eating habits and physical activity needed to combat childhood obesity.
"It's the USDA doing nutrition education on the cheap," said Michael F. Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a Washington-based nutrition advocacy group. "It's basically warmed-over, namby-pamby nutrition advice that comes out of the 1950s. . . . If the administration were serious about...
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Senator Bill Frist: The threat of avian flu
Paxil Alert for Pregnant Women
FDA warns about ADHD drug Strattera
FReepmail me if you want on or off my health and science ping list. Anyone can post any unrelated link as they see fit.
Kids do not need their own food pyramid, any more than they need their own television sets in their own rooms. Kids need engaged parents who provide proper nourishment served at a table surrounded by family. Children are not supposed to take care of themselves and it is not reasonable to expect them to eat things that their parents do not eat. The abandonment of family meals is key to the dissolution of the American family.
Putting the little chunkers in front of a computer is going to help them loose weight?.
The world is saved!
More Nanny-State mentality. My great grandparents and grand-parents lived to be in thei '90s. And, they ate eggs, lard, butter, sugar... I'm fed up with these bunch of stoopid ba$tards infringing on my family's right to eat whatever they want to eat. Karen, my wife of 34 years, and I will make those decisions. NOT some government entity.
I partly disagree as I have seen parents putting kids on a low fat diet to keep them from getting fat and not realize that kids need some fat. They are after all, growing and developing.
A diet that is ok for an adult may not be adequate for a child.
The abandonment of family meals is key to the dissolution of the American family.
Now that we agree on.
For most of history until the last few decades, properly nourishing one's children was a high priority, not a low one.
Thanks for the ping.
I agree. When my daughter was born a nutritionist came to my room to give me the low-down on childhood nutrition. Long story short, she told me that kids need quite a bit of fat until they're 12-14 years old for brain development. I've read quite a few articles over the years that backed that up.
If this group had it's way, there would be a tax on ALL snack foods since, according to them, they're all bad for you and cause you to get fat and everyone has to pay for health care for fat people who get sick.
I have to wonder how many childhood troubles are caused by kids not eating right. Both of my parents still have health problems related to the fact that they were malnourished as kids.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.