California bans school junk food

[T_i_B]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4251928.stm

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed legislation to ban some junk foods from California high schools, in an effort to stem child obesity.

"We are going to terminate obesity in California once and for all," the former bodybuilder and actor said.

The new laws extend to high schools a ban on sodas already in place at primary schools.

New limits on fat and sugar content have also been set for vending-machine snacks and food sold in school stores.

[bemildred]

1. Might even help grades a bit. nt

[Oerdin]

2. NPR

Was reporting that the American Berage Makers Association (or some such soft drink makers group) was protesting and calling it unfair. :lol:

[Semi_subversive]

3. Aren't Ahnold's kids chunky?

[OnionPatch]

4. Well, finally he does something I agree with!

n/t

[IndyJones]

5. I think it's great!

[haele]

6. Yeah, now the vending machine items are the more expensive items...

They're selling "Sobes" and other "juice drinks" and the high-in-fat and calorie (and corn syrup) but "healthy" commercial energy bars in the machines for the kids to down. The average Sobe or "juice drink" as sold in vending machines is in reality 2.5 to 3 servings of the drink and the supplemental "extras" - be they vitamins or "herbal" boosts; what would be reasonable in one serving can really mess up a kid who's already got hormone or brain chemistry issues. There is such a thing as too much guarana, too much kava-kava, too much black tea, too much taurine, too much vitamin A, etc...
Especially since these drinks tend to taste like kool-aid, and kids will guzzle these bottles down two or three a day.

And food like Cliff bars or granola bars - these were initially made to be a quick meal alternative to be eaten along with a serving of fruit - not a treat like a candy bar. But of course, that's how I've seen the kids generally eat them - like candy. Two or three at a time. Talk about "super-size me!"

Processed "fast food" is still processed fast food, no matter how much "healthy" supplements they put in it. And eating too much of a good thing is still eating too much.

Not to mention, yet again - what they're replacing a 50 cent candy bar or a 75 cent twinkie with is a $1 - $1.50 health food bar or bit of old, over-ripe fruit, and the 75 cent canned 12 oz soft drink is being replaced by a 20 - 24 oz "healthy drink" for $1.25 or so.

Mo' Money is the bottom line.

Haele