Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Weaning Them Off Soda/Maine
The Bangor Daily News ^ | 5 July 2002 | who knows!

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.


TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Culture/Society; Editorial; US: Maine
KEYWORDS: bigbrother; highschool; soda; vendingmachines; weaning
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 81-100101-120121-140 ... 261-263 next last
To: SheLion
Another reason to BROWN BAG it.
101 posted on 07/05/2002 11:18:30 AM PDT by GailA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ECM
Why make this an issue at school? Give me 1 good reason for having a soda machine at school.

I'll give you two very good reasons why it shouldn't be in a school:

1) It's not good for them. 2) It makes them hyper and will not help them learn more.

When my son started school, his teachers asked the parents to limit the sugar intake on school days because it makes the kids hyper.

102 posted on 07/05/2002 11:24:24 AM PDT by luckystarmom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]

To: Gabz
I didn't say "you" I said "the" morons...if you took that personally that is either your problem or your solution to solve...either way it does not involve me. Cool as ice here, excellent blood pressure after four mile jog. I don't let other's ignorance raise my blood pressure...
103 posted on 07/05/2002 11:38:32 AM PDT by kellynla
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 93 | View Replies]

To: liberallarry
I see an America populated with an increasing percentage of fat kids. You don't.

As you have been told repeatedly by myself and other posters, the CDC changed the standards for obesity rendering millions of more people obese. If you choose not to listen when you are supplied with information, I can't help you.

I see an America less able to deliver health care to most of its people than it was 10 years ago. You don't.

How come, if things are worse, they haven't changed that phoney number of "37 million uninsured" for 12 years?

If I'm correct I'll make a fortune and you won't.

I've already blown two fortunes and I have no intention of going through that again.
;O)

If I'm wrong perhaps you'll buy me a cup of coffee.

Knowing you, you'll bring an armed gang of Federal Marshalls and force me to buy coffee for the whole country.

I thought to demonstrate this with a chart showing average life-span by country (and in particular showing lifespan in Cuba which I'm told is equal to ours) but I was unable to come up with it in the time I have to spare.

Well, maybe next time you'll show up with charts and slides and congratulatory letters from Fidel and brand new pens in your pocket protector.

Catch ya later, comrade.

104 posted on 07/05/2002 11:43:49 AM PDT by metesky
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 99 | View Replies]

To: kellynla
These are your exact words:

anybody who smokes TODAY is a MORON...

That is a specific declaritive, not a general.

About the only thing that does raise my blood pressure, is the ignorance of others. Considering, however, my blood pressure has only ever been in the higher range of normal for my age, height and weight once in my entire life, I guess I do a great job of paying the ignorance of others no nevermind.

Have a nice day.

105 posted on 07/05/2002 11:48:54 AM PDT by Gabz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 103 | View Replies]

To: KantianBurke
Just now saw your post. Sorry.

Look. Nobody's perfect. So nobody gets excited when you point out that a Nobel prize winning physicist has a lousy personal life. It doesn't negate the value of his discoveries. The same thing is true of societies. The Nazis didn't do everything wrong. Maybe we can emulate some of the things they did right without compromising our basic principles. Maybe not. It's worth looking into. Same thing with the Cubans.

Hitler and Stalin - so it is reported - came to the opposite conclusions. Relativity and certain biological theories contradicted their ideology, hence were to be abandoned. Didn't matter that they worked.

Specifically. We don't want to emulate socialized medicine. But there's more to health care than that. The Cubans may have found ways to deliver good health care without the need for specialists and expensive diagnostic tools. If so, how do they do it?

106 posted on 07/05/2002 12:10:17 PM PDT by liberallarry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 79 | View Replies]

To: metesky
I see an America populated with an increasing percentage of fat kids. You don't.

As you have been told repeatedly by myself and other posters, the CDC changed the standards for obesity rendering millions of more people obese.

See means see. Use the old eye-balls. As you've been told repeatedly. (It also means see in a statistical sense but that is always highly debatable). I went to school in the '40s, '50s, and '60s. I remember very few fat kids and those who were were mostly husky, not obese. Nor was it a common sight - as it is today - to see women waddling rather than walking. You say your memories are different. Well then. Impasse.

107 posted on 07/05/2002 12:23:01 PM PDT by liberallarry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 104 | View Replies]

To: KantianBurke; liberallarry
Oh Lord...another one.

I'm trying to have a vacation of sorts here, but it looks like there may be bats in the belfry once again.

larry, when you mention that Cuba can deliver medical services at 1% of what our cost, what costs are you talking about?

108 posted on 07/05/2002 12:36:36 PM PDT by Luis Gonzalez
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 80 | View Replies]

To: liberallarry
You weren't paying attention.

I too went to school in the '40s, '50s and '60s and I remember waddlers even then.

Don't you remember Saint Jack saying we were a nation of fatties and we had to get into shape? 50 mile walks?

You should remember this. I know you've got a picture of Saint Jack on the wall.
109 posted on 07/05/2002 1:00:47 PM PDT by metesky
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 107 | View Replies]

To: liberallarry
How about educating people instead of taking away their freedom of choice?

Oh, I forgot ... the liberal agenda doesn't allow for that. We're all too stupid to take care of ourselves, so the "nanny state" government has to do it for us.
110 posted on 07/05/2002 1:01:05 PM PDT by Schatze
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: ResistorSister
Your headaches were probably from the caffeine, not the sugar.

As for Big Brother, your comment is an insult to anyone with common sense or intelligence. Thanks, but I can take care of myself.

111 posted on 07/05/2002 1:05:09 PM PDT by Schatze
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Luis Gonzalez; liberallarry
Luis, it ain't like a bunch of capitalist doctor friends of Larry got together and said, "Hey guys, let's go to Cuba and see how they do things right!"

I think his friends already had socialist leanings, Luis.
112 posted on 07/05/2002 1:06:26 PM PDT by metesky
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 108 | View Replies]

To: liberallarry
I see an America populated with an increasing percentage of fat kids. You don't.

Au con-trary, FRiend, I see lots o' chubby children. I'm sayin', that ain't my problem, that ain't Civil Servant Shmuck's responsibility, that is the parents' problem plain and simple.

I see an America less able to deliver health care to most of its people than it was 10 years ago. You don't.

Well you might know more about that than I, having worked the field. In response, I quote a statistic regarding smokers that I heard on Paul Harvey-- 10% of us will develop lung cancer.

But 90% of us won't.

113 posted on 07/05/2002 1:10:13 PM PDT by maxwell
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 99 | View Replies]

To: liberallarry
Liberallarry. You have made some interesting points. I must call you on your statement about Cuban Healthcare however.

Only the PARTY hospitals are good. I have read of Cuban Doctors coming to international conventions and being AMAZED that some think that Cuba has a superior health care system.

The average Cuban must supply his OWN blanket and bedding and most conditions are too crowded and unsanitary. It is a totalitarian regime for goodness sake! Try listening to some CUBAN Doctors that have escaped and came here. THAT would make your blood boil.

I dont know why liberals love Cuba so much. Would you love me if I enslaved you all and gave 1% of us excellant healthcare and forced 99% of the rest into a medical hellhole? Would I be COMPASSIONATE? :D

As for the schools... I am undecided on this one. I lean more to the individualist argument but you are correct, children are not adults. I will give it more thought.

114 posted on 07/05/2002 1:14:58 PM PDT by Arioch7
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: Schatze
your comment is an insult to anyone with common sense or intelligence

Then you should have realized that my comment was not meant to insult you.

115 posted on 07/05/2002 1:33:30 PM PDT by ResistorSister
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 111 | View Replies]

To: kellynla
... or ask me to pay higher insurance premiums for the yellow tooth, cancer stix hacking MORONS

What about the morons who engage in risky sexual behavior and get AIDS? We're all paying for that, and I don't see anybody asking AIDS sufferers to pay higher premiums or more taxes, even though their behavior is costing American taxpayers billions of dollars in medical expenses and insurance.

116 posted on 07/05/2002 1:38:39 PM PDT by Schatze
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 81 | View Replies]

To: ResistorSister
OK, I'll rephrase it: Big Brotherism is an insult to anyone with common sense or intelligence.
117 posted on 07/05/2002 1:50:55 PM PDT by Schatze
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 115 | View Replies]

To: liberallarry
Well, since you're so opposed to "Big Brother" you no doubt support selling pornography and drugs to school kids?

I have read many, many of your posts. I agree, I disagree. This comment is way out of line. I'm 49 yrs, never saw a soda machine in school. If it is a problem why not remove it! Legal drugs and porn for children, are you hitting on all cylinders?.

118 posted on 07/05/2002 1:58:21 PM PDT by golder
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Schatze
Big Brotherism is an insult to anyone with common sense or intelligence.

Big Brotherism is just another bogeyman for the fearful...put down Orwell and relax.

119 posted on 07/05/2002 2:07:02 PM PDT by ResistorSister
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 117 | View Replies]

To: ResistorSister
I think you're on the wrong forum. Why don't you try DU? They go for that kind of liberal claptrap over there.
120 posted on 07/05/2002 2:09:35 PM PDT by Schatze
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 119 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 81-100101-120121-140 ... 261-263 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson