Posted on 06/24/2006 8:57:05 AM PDT by sully777
BOSTON (Reuters) - When it comes to food, Boston is best known for baked beans and clam chowder. But this week, state legislators have engaged in robust debate on Marshmallow Fluff -- a locally made, sugary spread.
State Sen. Jarrett Barrios started the tempest in a lunch box when he learned that his son's Cambridge grammar school cafeteria offered Fluff-and-peanut butter sandwiches daily.
In a nation where child obesity rates have more than doubled in the past 25 years, Barrios fretted that was not a healthy option. Monday he proposed a law that would allow schools to serve the "Fluffernutters" only once a week.
"The key was to start a discussion of what is nutritious," said Colin Durrant, Barrios' director of public policy.
Fluff aficionados defended the sweet spread, which locals also lather on ice cream and into hot chocolate, and is made by local company, Durkee-Mower Inc. of Lynn, Massachusetts. A two-tablespoon serving of fluff, which is made from corn syrup, sugar and egg whites, has about 60 calories.
State Rep. Kathi Anne Reinstein Tuesday introduced a bill that would make the Fluffernutter the state sandwich. Barrios signed on as a co-sponsor of that bill, saying that he liked Fluff himself but did not want kids eating it every day for lunch.
Don Durkee, the 80-year-old president of Durkee-Mower, said Fluff didn't warrant so much legislative attention.
"It should be up to the consumers and the parents to determine what is fed to their children," Durkee said. "There's probably more serious things to be concerned about."
These people have waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay to much time on their hands
Back in the day, we went all day outside in the good weather and sometimes in the bad. When I was a teenager, it was either get up at 3 in the morning with my brother and hike 6 miles to the creek to go fishing or stay home and cut wood. Hiking and fishing usually won out!
When we were younger we were always outside with friends playing some kind of game until it was almost to dark to see.
Very few of us were overweight!
The Federal Government also changed the definition of obesity so that Mel Gibson is considered overweight
Bet you did it barefooted and in the snow...just kidding.
My 18 year old has to be "nagged" out of bed to get up to go to school or to work, but if he's going fishing, he miraculously pops out of bed at 4:30 or 5 AM even without an alarm.
Peanut butter and marshmallow sandwiches? My teeth hurt just thinking about it. Kids probably down it with a big bottle of Coke too... Ugh.
My lad for some odd reason got up at 1pm one day and then had the nerve to ask if we were doing anything.... "I'd hate to waste such a beautiful day."
He is normal weight and fit and heading to the USA next week! I commend him, a good lad.
Actually saw these at Costco.
We used to bicycle all over the place from dusk to well after dawn. Make forts, play basketball and football, hike in the local "cowpins" (empty fields), street baseball after dark -- and none of that commie "soccer" stuff!
I agree, kids today are too protected and too spoiled by electronics.
Fluff also has zero fat. It's worthless as a food, but also harmless. 60 calories is nothing. The peanut butter, on the other hand is quite a good food.
The guy's an idiot.
"Bet you did it barefooted and in the snow"
Don't forget
"Uphill, both ways!"
I never got into Fluffernutter as a kid. My parents did not have the money to buy much junk food so we lobbied for moon pies
My population in a neighboring town in MA is 30% criminal aliens and all this assh*le has time for is banning Fluff.
We played like that, walked to school several miles daily year round and I can name six kids in my neighborhood that were obese.
Good points though. BTW, we played until we saw the street lights come on.
It is the symbolism that gets me. What does this clown expect? When Fluff rules in the classroom, fluff will follow in the cafeteria. Schools are not serious institutions and neither is the political institution to which this guy was elected.
What a Lazy SOB! Instead of teaching his kid to eat correctly or, baring that, sending a note to school asking that his child not be served the OPTIONAL sandwiches. He tries to pass a law baring every child in the state from having the option. Typical liberal nanny-state solution to every problem, abdicate personal responsibility to a government solution.
You know, it's bad enough I didn't have teachers like [insert name of hot teacher in news lately] when I was growing up, but I'm really irritated we never had Marshmallow Fluff.
I'll wager a bet it was uphill both ways!
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