Parents in Palm Beach are facing a difficult decision - do they want their kids dumb and thin, or smart and fat?
In the midst of a healthier school-food movement and childhood obesity epidemic, Krispy Kreme is rewarding students with a doughnut for every A on their report cards — up to a half-dozen per grading period. Critics believe the doughnut company's giveaway is full of nutritional holes...
Krispy Kreme will award students a doughnut per A, up to six per grading period. At the same time, the school district is reshaping its menus to offer healthier choices...
Each of the original glazed Krispy Kremes contains 200 calories, 12 grams of fat and 22 grams of carbohydrates. Other varieties have as many as 350 calories, 20 grams of fat and 43 grams of carbohydrates...
School board member Monroe Benaim said it is difficult to turn away companies that are supporting schools, especially when the district's shrinking budget has forced it to make choices such as making student athletes to pay for their own insurance. But in this case, he wishes Krispy Kreme would take a different approach...
Cathy Probst of The Acreage has campaigned against using sweets as rewards and using sales of junk food to raise money..."I certainly would not want to see posters in classrooms with doughnuts on them as a reminder every day, day in and day out." she said. "When you do well and you reward yourself with food, that is something that will continue to promote obesity."
Then again, parents don't really have a difficult decision. All they need to do is encourage their kids to work hard, and not drive them to Krispy Kreme when the report cards come in.
Posted by kswygert at August 25, 2004 11:12 AM