Posted on 07/05/2002 6:25:02 AM PDT by SheLion
A group of dedicated health specialists met again this week to fine-tune its plan to encourage every school in Maine to get rid of sodas, chips and other non-nutritional items.
They have put together an information packet warning against soda and chips as major causes of a current epidemic of obesity and tooth decay throughout the country but especially in Maine. The packet includes research articles and fact sheets designed to persuade students, parents, teachers and school administrators that the campaign is one tangible, practical means of improving health and heading off future disease. The committee has met with vending machine companies and obtained assurances of cooperation.
The next step will be to develop a strategy presentation for individual school districts. Pilot projects in several Maine communities are scheduled to start March 1, 2003, After evaluation of the results, the statewide campaign is slated for the school year starting in September 2004.
One question that arose in this week’s meeting was how best to get the students to realize that it is up to them to control their own diet and escape from the vending-machine monopolies in many schools that promote consumption of the big-name drinks that are heavy on sugar and caffeine.
A nutritionist suggested permitting a choice between healthful and unhealthful items. Others believe that, if given a choice, many students will take the junk.
Another question is how the vending companies may respond to the campaign. Milk and plain water must be carefully defined or some vendor may come up with a pricey new variation. How about Coke-flavored milk?
The committee is preparing for the day when it will seek wider publicity. It is drafting model news stories and news releases. One suggestion, unanimously approved, was that they drop the technical term “dental caries” in their fact sheets and refer simply to plain old “tooth decay.” That was a step in the right direction.
It's a wonder any of us made it this far with all the Big Brothers in Maine telling us we: aren't eating right: we drink too much: coffee is bad smoking is bad...........give me a break. These "health specialist’s have nothing better to do with their time???
In case you hadn't noticed we have a terrible problem with obesity and a health care system that's failing. What do you propose to do about that? Nothing?
Get real. Abandon your ideological blinders.
From 1st grade through high school, 1955-1968, no public school in my town (Scarsdale, NY) ever saw a soda machine.
I'm surprised to hear that they have since become so ubiquitous that the health nazis are trying to get them removed.
Also, for years, I've been plagued with Migraine Headaches...since I've stopped drinking pop...I have not had a single Migraine (of course...I will have to give it a few months before I make a REAL claim that the debilitating headaches were connected with soda pop.)
If BIG BROTHERS help kids take off extra weight - then it is a good thing.
Your totally disgusting and WAY off the mark here.
I'm not saying "it's a good thing" to keep junk food in schools. What I AM saying that since vending machines have been in schools for several years, and since Big Government recently came out against obesity, now the "health officials" are jumping on the band wagon!
Why didn't our health officials think about this beFORE Big Government stepped in. By-the-way, you do not know me, and I resent you using my name in the same sentence as porn. Your a jerk.
Took the words right outta my mouth, chickie... People don't need to have this crap jammed down their noses. Folks have a pretty good general idea about what's healthy to eat and what ain't. I just choose to ignore it most of the time. ;)
At least they aren't promoting a national policy, but that can't be far down the road...MUD
WTF? What the hell does this have to do with anything?
In case you hadn't noticed we have a terrible problem with obesity and a health care system that's failing.
The two are correlated?
What do you propose to do about that? Nothing?
Damn straight. If folks wanna live heavy, that's their prerogative.
Get real. Abandon your ideological blinders.
What about YOUR ideological blinders, dude? You gonna line everybody in the country up and dole out their tofu and string bean soup for the day?
Parents and administrators were responsible adults then ... knew what the word no meant and how to say it.
Thank you! me thinks that liberallarry is either:
a: works for Bangor Daily News or:
b: is one of the "health specialists" the article refers too.
hehe
Well, ourside of the Maine Government, it's a wonderful state. But there are WAY too many nannies here. I hate that! They want to control everyone's life and it makes me want to vomit.
Plus, it's a DemocRAT run state. What does THAT tell you!
ADULTs know what's healthy and what isn't. Children generally don't. Obesity is getting to be a serious problem with kids. With kids sitting in a government school all day I see nothing wrong with the government wanting to remove access to junk food and provide healthier lunches than hot dogs and tacos.
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