DEBRIS.COMgood for a laugh, or possibly an aneurysm

Habits learned in childhood can last a lifetime. That’s why so many companies market to kids; for example, tobacco companies target advertising to children in hopes of creating life-long addicts, and fast-food companies do the same thing.

So why do schools serve soda and junk food? One might think that it would be beneficial to kids’ health, and to the future economy of the country, to teach kids healthy eating habits. There are actually a number of reasons why schools should continue to serve soda and junk food to kids:

1. Banning soda will cost schools big money.
2. Soda is not the problem; kids need more exercise.
3. Soft drink companies help schools by donating scoreboards, uniforms and equipment.
4. Kids won’t buy healthy foods from vending machines.
5. Banning soda sales violates kids’ right to free choice.

This is all common sense, right?

Wrong. A grade school in San Francisco recently phased out soda and junk food and proved all the above “truths” to be untrue. Example: the school found that vending-machine sales rose when sodas were replaced with bottled water and 100% juice drinks. Read the real-world truth behind these junk-food myths.

A regional group called Parents Advocating School Accountability provides additional helpful resources for parents or teachers who would like to replicate this success. Specifically, the “Healthy Food, Healthy Kids” PDF outlines a 10-step program for eliminating junk foods from your kids’ school.

Here’s the article that inspired this story: One school’s uncanny success with junk-food ban

Tags:
posted to channel: Personal
updated: 2004-02-22 22:49:16