Bill Strikes at Low-Nutrition Foods in School

NY Times ^ | April 6, 2006 | MARIAN BURROS

[neverdem]

The days when children consume two orders of French fries in the school cafeteria and call it lunch may be numbered. A bipartisan group in Congress plans to introduce legislation today that would prohibit the sale in school not only of French fries but also of other fatty or sugary foods, including soft drinks.

Under the bill, an amendment to the National School Lunch Act, high nutritional standards would be required of all food sold on school premises. That means not just in cafeterias but in vending machines, school stores and snack bars as well, even at fund-raising events.

The measure, which has strong bipartisan support in both houses, would do on a national level what many school districts have been trying to do for years: require that the schools set an example by providing only healthful food and so perhaps reduce the incidence of childhood obesity.

Senator Lisa Murkowski, Republican of Alaska, has watched what goes on in the school her two teenage sons attend.

"We talk a lot about healthy nutrition, we teach the kids about the food pyramid, and then they go down the hallway and get the high fat, high sodium and high junk available in the vending machines," Ms. Murkowski said. "We need to be consistent. People are beginning to connect the dots between rising health care costs and obesity."

Senator Tom Harkin, an Iowa Democrat who has been pushing such a bill since 1994, said: "Congress is finally catching up with what parents have believed for a long time. Members of Congress are hearing from their constituents and recognizing this has become a national problem. I think finally members of Congress are asking, 'Why do we have soft drink vending machines in our schools?' "

[M0sby]

Well..I don't know how it will "play out" in other schools.
But at my high school, the "cafeteria" is going broke.
THey still have to prepare a ton of lunches for the students who are signed up for "free or reduced" lunches.
Most of the kids go elsewhere though..and buy what they want.

It used to be that you would try to "Get in Early" so you didn't have to wait in a HUGE LINE to buy lunch.
Now it doesn't really matter when you show up.

Stupid rule.
Obvious consequences.

And about restricting what is sold at events...even MORE STUPID!

[wildwood]

OMIGOSH! will it never cease? are republicans going to have to be killed at the polls to remember their original missions? they are meddling in EVERYTHING!

i can't believe this. we are headed for the NANNY state, being led by the nose by REPUBLICANS, for gosh sake.

they're called CHOICES...kids are allowed to make some CHOICES.ugh.

[upchuck]

The school where I volunteer uses money from the vending machines to help partially pay for the unfunded mandates dictated by the stupid NCLB Act.

The after school program I volunteer in uses money from candy bar sales to pay teachers.

Personally, I don't think Congress has any business legislating on this. I doubt you could find this authority in the Constitution.

But at the same time I think it's a real disservice to the kids to offer them snacks that all have high fructose corn syrup as the leading ingredient.

Interesting anecdote:
I drink diet soda. Of the four soda machines, only one offers a diet drink. And it is never sold out :)

[doug from upland]

I also oppose a nanny state, be we have some responsibility for our kids. If we don't let them eat crap at home and become morbidly obese, we shouldn't allow it at school.

[Ursine_East_Facing_North]

I really don't have that much of a problem with this. We're talking about kids, and kids need guidance. They don't always make the best choices.

However, banning sweets at events and fundraisers may be a bit too much. Really, how successful will a bake-sale be, when all they can offer is non-fat Vegan tofu brownies?

[goodnesswins]

When I was in high school there were APPLE machines....and that was about it. And, after Gymnastics practice, I was starving, and would BUY an apple. If there had been other junk, I probably would have bought it, because, as I said, I was so hungry, I had to eat something!

[gleeaikin]

My mother was a third grade teacher from the late 1950's until the early 1970's in several suburban schools. Near the end of her teaching career, she would bemoan how the quality of students was deteriorating. She was firmly convinced it was because of deteriorating quality of nutrition both at home and at school.

[Ursine_East_Facing_North]

Personally, I don't think Congress has any business legislating on this. I doubt you could find this authority in the Constitution.

You're right here, of course. But then again, there's nothing in the Constitution granting the authority for federal funding for public schools to begin with.

[Myrddin]

"We talk a lot about healthy nutrition, we teach the kids about the food pyramid, and then they go down the hallway and get the high fat, high sodium and high junk available in the vending machines,"

There is nothing healthy about the "food pyramid". It is the product of political wrangling to sell more wheat and dairy products. It recommends too much carbohydrate and insufficient protein. If anything will turn you into a fat tub, it is following the food pyramid.

Frankly, the Zone diet recommended by Barry Sears is the most appropriate recommendation I've encountered. 30% calories from protein, 30% calories from fat, 40% calories from carbohydrates. Total calories are tailored to your lean body mass to ensure sufficient protein to support the muscle tissue. Lean chicken, lean beef and quality fish e.g. white albacore in spring water are great sources of protein. Fats are appropriately limited and drawn from good monounsaturated sources like olive oil and almonds. Carbohydrates are selected from the low glycemic index items. The aim is to avoid sharp spikes in insulin.

[Skibane]

Personally, I don't think Congress has any business legislating on this. I doubt you could find this authority in the Constitution.

But at the same time I think it's a real disservice to the kids to offer them snacks that all have high fructose corn syrup as the leading ingredient.

My thoughts exactly. The grease- and sugar-laced crap that gets served in many school cafeterias and vending machines is appalling - But isn't the fault of anyone other than the schools that tolerate it.

As a student, I have eaten in cafeterias that served nutritious, consistently delicious meals - in spite of the lack of any state or federal involvement. All it takes is a community that wants good food for its students, and is willing to do what ever is necessary to make it happen.

[neverdem]

ambivalent nanny state ping

Just with obesity and maturity onset diabetes of the young, the kids are in bad shape. However, I'm ambivalent about it being a federal job.

[Will_Zurmacht]

I say we reduce farm subsidies to Agri-Business Giants and re-direct that money to smaller family farms.
Then schools can buy locally/regionally grown products to feed the kiddies. The money helps the local farmers instead of the suits, kiddies eat something besides puffed sugar, and maybe the kiddies could even visit the farms to see how their food is produced...

[NonValueAdded]

Holy central planning, Batman, why don't they just legislate the menu and buy in bulk for the whole shebang?

[freespirited]

Ok. Here's my prediction.

It won't work.

[Jack Hammer]

The Nanny State food Nazis are marching on, goose-stepping aggressivly toward the socialist Utopia which will only succeed in eliminating from human life all choice and all freedoms - except the "freedom" to join the masses in their lock step to slavery.

[Ladysmith]

First, Congress should be staying out of this and should be dealt with at the local level. The "for the children" mantra means going after the adults isn't far behind. If the parents want changes, then get involved locally and prevent one more slippery slope bill.

Second, the food pyramid is still carb-and-sugar loaded, with the largest group, breads, being the most processed. There should be more emphasis on protein and fiber.

[The Foolkiller]

Here's another one.

[metesky]

There is only one choice allowed; the choice to kill your unborn baby.

[SheLion]

Here's another one.

Is the government sending letters out yet for us to be fitted with our little brown shirts and jack boots?  heh!