Posted on 02/08/2010 3:39:11 AM PST by UAConservative
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration will begin a drive this week to expel Pepsi, French fries and Snickers bars from the nation’s schools in hopes of reducing the number of children who get fat during their school years.
In legislation, soon to be introduced, candy and sugary beverages would be banned and many schools would be required to offer more nutritious fare.
To that end, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will deliver a speech Monday at the National Press Club in which he will insist, according to excerpts provided to The Times, that any vending machines that remain in schools be “filled with nutritious offerings to make the healthy choice the easy choice for our nation’s children.”
The first lady, Michelle Obama, said last month that she would lead an initiative to reduce childhood obesity, and her involvement “shows the importance all of us place on this issue,” Mr. Vilsack said.
The administration’s willingness to put Mrs. Obama’s popularity on the line is a calculated bet that concerns about childhood obesity have become so universal that the once-partisan fight over who should control school food offerings — the federal government or school boards — has subsided.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I went to school in central IL in 60s, and had essentially the same experience. If there were any vending machines anywhere, I was never aware of them.
We got some vending machines (4) when I was in junior high school. After that everybody had chocolate milk, fruit pies and ice cream sandwiches.
Maybe there's something to all this vending machine stuff but the decisision-making authority ought to be at the local school level, maybe the state level. Not the feds.
Sorry Michelle. How about battling illiteracy in the inner cities? Why not try that for awhile?
Honestly -- I really don't see how it's going to make a difference, since most kids will just bring junk from home or stuff themselves with crap after school instead.
It's an easy way to supplement their budgets. Then they send home notes to parents telling them that they need to watch what their kids are eating, that obesity is a problem.
My boss carries her diet coke around with her all day. She is never without it.
I know the feeling.
I am almost 65.
My mom was in an accident a couple of years ago, another driver rear ended her car, when telling me about it she kept referring to, "the old man that hit me", mom was 87 at the time.
She's 89 now and no longer drives......as long as no one tells her she can't.
EXCELLENT.
There is no right that children have to French Fries, Twinkies or SodaPopTonic!
After all, we don’t have cigarette vending machines in schools. So why these “foods” that are hard to metabolize, fatty, contain tons of toxic ingredients should be on sale in schools is beyond me.
I hope you are right. But do you really think the entire country is fed up with the nonsense that has been going on since the ‘60s? Maybe it is because I live in the NY area, but so many people are terribly liberal. I am praying for a revival that would turn men’s hearts to the Lord.
I think a voting majority is fed up with it. That's what I should have said. A voting majority, IMO, wants the adults with some life experience and common sense to take charge again.
Now that the corruption from leftist politics to pseudo-science globull warming scams to all the politically correct nonsense has reached a peak it is time to squash it back down and relegate it to the kook fringe where it belongs.
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