Posted on 04/30/2005 3:44:43 AM PDT by r5boston
AMHERST, Mass. - A proposed bill that would curtail cookie and cake sales in Massachusetts' elementary and high schools has few fans among hungry teens here.
"Kids don't want to buy carrots; they want to buy cake,'' Atayvia Sowers, a 17-year-old student at Amherst Regional High School, told the Daily Hampshire Gazette as she unwrapped a plate of brownies for an after-school bake sale sponsored by the student group People of Color United.
Supporters say the bill, proposed by state Rep. Peter J. Koutoujian, D-Waltham, is aimed at curbing childhood obesity. It would prevent student groups from selling sweets on school grounds until at least 30 minutes after the end of classes.
The measure also requires schools to reduce portion sizes and replace high-fat, high-sugar snacks in school vending machines and lunchrooms with lowfat milk, juice and fresh fruits and vegetables.
Koutoujian did not immediately return a call Friday seeking comment.
High school Principal Mark Jackson said Amherst doesn't have the money to subsidize school clubs and bake sales would be effectively eliminated if they could not begin until 30 minutes after classes ended.
"Prime time is at the end of the day,'' Jackson said. ``I want to encourage kids to eat responsibly, (but) on the other hand, they should be able to enjoy cookies.''
Skrew the kookies, This cookie monster eats bullets for lunch! Gimme bullets :)
Pssst. Hey man, ya got any sweets? I just need 1/2 a dozen. I need a sugar fix...
Welcome to the War on Cookies.
They already pulled this crap in California.
Food nazis on the rise. Why do we need a law for this? Whatever happened to personal responsibility?
Isn't it just a little incredible that cutting out gym for HS Junior and Seniors, and recess for younger students, some who don't get home before 4PM, would be over-all a good thing?
Some of these vending machines with "healthy snacks" have juice drinks with even more sugar than some sodas.
This guy wants to do some good, re-instate physical activity and put someone who has studied nutrition in charge of school lunch programs and snack offerings.
I can see it now. Scores of students walking down the hallways and whispering to each other not "4:20 but "350 for 12 - 15 minutes"
Guys walking around with hollowed out books stuffed with macaroons.
Then there will be a zero tolerance policy on brownies so that Girl Scouts will not be allowed on school grounds.
These people just take the fun out of everything, even something as harmless as cookie sales.
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