Restaraunts are changing their children's meals to reflect a growing concern about childhood obesity:
The traditional kids' menu at casual restaurants - replete for years with burgers, french fries and fried chicken strips - is expanding to include steamed broccoli, black beans and rice, and grilled chicken.
The trend is a clear response to the growing concern about childhood obesity. An estimated 20% to 30% of kids are either overweight or at risk of becoming so.
A few of the biggest casual dining chains already are dishing out the healthier foods. Others plan to roll them out by summer.
However, I'm betting an attitude adjustment will be the biggest change needed to combat obesity amongst young people, as evidenced by the wailing and gnashing of teeth at a Boston high school that has gone crunchy:
When high school student Shirley Gomez heard the news yesterday, she froze, widening her eyes and gaping in disbelief.
If the Boston School Committee adopts the new nutrition policy proposed yesterday, Gomez' midmorning chocolate-chip cookies could be replaced by granola bars. Her gummy bears dumped for raisins. And her syrupy-sweet red fruit juice axed for vitamin-fortified soy milk.
''No way. They can't do that," said Gomez, as she and her friends made their way to the Burger King next door to Jeremiah E. Burke High School in Dorchester. ''If I wanted that kind of food, I could take it from my refrigerator at home. Why do I need to buy it at school?"
How many things are wrong with Gomez's statement? Let's see. First is the assumption that students have some sort of right to sugary treats on school grounds. Next is the fact that she's complaining about this when there's a BK Lounge next door. Finally, the same argument "I could take this from my refrigerator at home" can be used to justify providing healthy snacks as a rescue tactic for kids whose parents' shopping habits are unhealthy.
The approximately 130 vending machines in Boston public schools are stocked with a variety of high-fat fare: potato chips, brownies, cupcakes, and ice cream. Beverages include high-sugar sport drinks, iced tea, and juice.
If a new policy is approved, all those items will be banned in September.
Super-sized snacks and sweets will be replaced by items low in calories, sugar, and fat. Beverages will include water with no additives, low fat or skim milk, and vegetable and fruit drinks with a minimum of 50 percent juice...
So far, some of the system's top consumers have not quite embraced the idea.
''I guess I won't be eating lunch, then," said freshman Tanisha Gray, who usually plunks about $1.50 in change for Doritos and fruit juice during lunch. ''You'd get more money from the vending machines with real snacks."
Sherrel Stokes, 15, and Akeem Brown, 14, said they worry what the move could do for their image. ''Nobody eats bananas or apples for lunch -- nobody," said Stokes, folding her hands across her chest.
''Who's going to walk around school eating an apple?" scoffed Brown.
Guess what, Brown? You are, now, unless you buy your own junk food in the grocery store. You say your parents won't buy it for you? Why, then, is the school obligated to provide it? As for that "image" issue, well, I'd suggest finding a way to be cool that doesn't involve eating tons of overpriced and fattening food during the school day. Any kid who derives their popularity and self-image from Doritos has got a bigger problem than obesity facing them later on.
Posted by kswygert at May 27, 2004 04:34 PM