There was a time when our mothers only gave us soft drinks and colas on an occasion. When we came in from hard play outside (another element of our upbringing that's all but disappeared), we had milk... water... or Koolaid if lucky.
Read this brief article linked below from http://www.eXtension.org/ about the negatives of soft drinks replacing more wholesome beverages for children. Then, think about what you could do as a parent relative to improving the beverages your children drink. As well, consider how much activity your kids get in comparison to what play time was like in your childhood. Now, tell me why you are waiting for the school to do what you need to be doing?
Should Children Drink Diet Drinks? - eXtension
Showing posts with label Childhood Obesity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Childhood Obesity. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Kids Will Be Too Fat To Fight
Our kids are becoming too fat to fight... so says a group of US military leaders in Washington yesterday. The trending toward obesity is so significant, it's reportedly become a national security issue.
Now that's saying something... potentially headed toward not having enough people to defend our country. As well, consider that the military speaking out about childhood obesity and the quality of school lunch meals may not be such a bad thing. As the article goes on to remind us, it is because of the military's issue with poorly nourished recruits that we have a national school lunch program today. School lunches were supplied for our national security back in 1946. What about now? And, what about all the other contributors to the "obesity epidemic", besides lunch?
Nevertheless, perhaps the military's input will produce some changes in the program they've touted since its inception as a national security need. Maybe now it will get supported and funded as if it is "a need". Read the story for yourself and comment below.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Report links school lunches to national security
By MARY CLARE JALONICK (AP) – April 20, 2009
WASHINGTON — Too fat to fight? Many American children are so overweight from being fed french fries, pizza and other unhealthy foods at school lunchrooms that they cannot handle the physical rigors of being in the military, a group of retired officers say in a new report. [Continued at --- http://goo.gl/ML8P ]
"When over a quarter of young adults are too fat to fight, we need to take notice," Barnett said. He noted that national security in the year 2030 is "absolutely dependent" on reversing child obesity rates."
Now that's saying something... potentially headed toward not having enough people to defend our country. As well, consider that the military speaking out about childhood obesity and the quality of school lunch meals may not be such a bad thing. As the article goes on to remind us, it is because of the military's issue with poorly nourished recruits that we have a national school lunch program today. School lunches were supplied for our national security back in 1946. What about now? And, what about all the other contributors to the "obesity epidemic", besides lunch?
Nevertheless, perhaps the military's input will produce some changes in the program they've touted since its inception as a national security need. Maybe now it will get supported and funded as if it is "a need". Read the story for yourself and comment below.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Report links school lunches to national security
By MARY CLARE JALONICK (AP) – April 20, 2009
WASHINGTON — Too fat to fight? Many American children are so overweight from being fed french fries, pizza and other unhealthy foods at school lunchrooms that they cannot handle the physical rigors of being in the military, a group of retired officers say in a new report. [Continued at --- http://goo.gl/ML8P ]
Thursday, January 21, 2010
reBlog from fooducate.com: Why Michelle Obama’s Initiative to Reduce Childhood Obesity Will Fail | Fooducate
Found this article today that looks at both sides of the coin - so to speak - in our local and national efforts to mitigate childhood obesity rates and to support local farmers.
It stated that on Wednesday, January 20th, Michelle Obama made an announcement that marks the beginning of her second year as First Lady...
"First Lady Michelle Obama has a legacy she wants
to leave behind: drastically reducing childhood obesity. Yesterday at a Mayors
Conference in Washington DC, she announced a new initiative in this spirit, to
be formally announced in February."
fooducate.com, Why Michelle Obama’s Initiative to Reduce Childhood Obesity Will Fail Fooducate, Jan 2010
Topping the list of proposed action items is improving school lunches! But, clearly, obstacles exist to this and to the other listed points of action. Let's just say... let's follow the money. According to this article, billions upon billions of dollars - and related jobs - are invested in the continued unhealthiness of the U.S. population. So - can we really turn this around?
You should read the whole article. Then, give your opinion on the potentials for meaningful success on this monumental challenge, by clicking on "comment" below. In the meantime, we will be sure to bring you updates on Ms Obama's initiative.
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