Why Not?

So, I was listening to a radio interview the other day regarding Michelle Obama's effort to bring more healthy food choices into public schools. Being questioned was a member of the First Lady's staff, as well as the White House chef. There seemed to be great concern on the part of the interviewer regarding the future of a company, like Cheetos, for instance, if they couldn't make money by profiting from kids. In essence, "How could we do this to them?"

blech.

Junk food and fast food companies make an unhealthy product. Why can't we educate people, and give our children healthy, lively food as an alternative? Why do some folks care more about the Coca-cola company's bottom line than they do the well-being of kids (or all people) in this country?

Better food equals less disease. Here are some statistics from N.A.C.H. (National Association of Childrens' Hospitals)...

-According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 percent of children (over 9 million) 6-19 years old are overweight or obese -- a number that has tripled since 1980.
-Overweight adolescents have a 70 percent chance of becoming overweight or obese adults.
-Only Illinois has a statewide requirement for daily physical education (in schools).
-Nearly one-third of U.S. Children aged 4 to 19 eat fast food every day, resulting in approximately six extra pounds per year, per child. Fast food consumption has increased fivefold among children since 1970.
-In case reports limited to the 1990s, Type 2 diabetes accounted for 8 to 45 percent of all new pediatric cases of diabetes, in contrast with fewer than 4 percent before the 1990s.
-In a population-based sample, approximately 60 percent of obese children aged 5 to 10 years had at least one cardiovascular disease risk factor, such as elevated total cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin or blood pressure, and 25 percent had two or more risk factors.

Why can't we tell our children what food is good for them? What is wrong with eliminating unhealthy food choices from school vending machines???

Look; under the law, we don't let kids smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol. These things are bad for kids (and adults). What's so different about food? What is so wrong with keeping our children out of harm's way?