Their claim in their essay is essentially that the government is not doing nearly enough in the fight against obesity. By using statistics, Brownell and Nestle show that the money being used to encourage better nutrition education pales in comparison to the money being used for unhealthy foods. “In the same year that the government spent $2 million on its main nutrition-education program, McDonald’s spent $500 million on its We Love to See You Smile campaign” (Brownell and Nestle 525). Brownell and Nestle also states that the “…food industry and pro-business groups use a public relations script focused on personal responsibility” (525). By listing the main points used by the food industry when approached with criticism, it allows Brownell and Nestle to rebut it later in their essay.
I think that income has no bearing on a parent’s personal decision for their children’s weight. In many instances obesity in children can be avoided but I believe it has a lot to do with heritage. Some parents are overweight themselves and have bad eating habits and that in fact can be a balance on their children. The government has instilled many programs such as WIC. This program is designed to help women provide a healthy meal for their children, one of the requirements on this program is that the mother can only purchase nutritious items such as low fat milk, a sugar free cereal.
FDA only had a small amount of resources to check imported foods from outside the U.S. Because of that the food that is imported isn’t inspected and tested for contamination. According to Bill Hubbard, former commissioner of the FDA and advisor for Coalition for a Stronger FDA, in “Food Safety” article called “Increase Inspection of Imported Food is Necessary for safety”, states “if people knew how weak FDA was, they would be shocked.” He proposes doubling the FDA’s budget, enabling the agency to hire more scientists and inspectors, and sample between 5% and 10% of imported food” (Hubbard pg. 41). In 2007, China intentionally mixed toxins in wheat flour to make it appear like wheat gluten in their pet food. It was discovered by accident when a pet food provider taste tested the food on cats and several died (Hubbard pg.
I had a hard time drinking just plain milk, so I put some chocolate syrup in it and that made it much better but a lot less healthy. I thought that this week I may try a different solution because I know that this is not the healthiest. Although my fat intake went down this week and was way better than last week, I still had too much of it in my diet. I had 38.3% and the recommended is only 20% to 35%. My sodium intake was still over the correct amount.
Parents have to share the blame for unhealthy food choices their children make. Some kids will usually complain to their parents like “I don’t like vegetables” so they give them cookies. Some parents stick with healthy choices and only allow unhealthy foods on special occasions like birthdays and holidays. I feel that special occasion treat is something a school should consider. Many of the older kids will be able to relate to the issued of healthy foods, because they will be able to understand the outcome of unhealthy choices.
With these fads being used to influence the diets of Americans and all the while health statistics are not showing any improvement, demonstrates the impact that culture has on the food disconnection. With iconic images like the food pyramid still being utilized in government nutrition programs such as Women Infants and Children (WIC) and in the public and private education systems, the American populace is being reinforced with information supported by outdated research (as cited in Hargrove, n.d.). Cereal campaigns promoting a healthy start to your day with products comprised of complex sugars, genetically modified grains, and a side of milk that is filled with synthetic nutrients that can’t be processed by the body are sold as the solution to healthy eating (Kenner, 2008). With the American public continually bombarded with advertising campaigns promoting new half-baked quick fixes such as Slim fast or the lemon detox, the advertising market continues to exploit the yearning for a solution to healthy eating. The “French paradox” addresses the role of culture and its impact on eating habits, it draws a contrast between the French populace who’s eating habits are motivated by pleasure and long-standing culture, from that of Americans, who’s
She has noticed an epidemic, especially in children ages 2-5, because this is where it begins, and the fact children are doing less exercising and forced to eat life threatening foods. A scientific journal is not needed to understand that fried foods and just add water and/or microwave meals are probably not the healthiest for you. Michelle Obama is the first, first lady, no pun intended, to actually join the legislative fight on agriculture, and school services as they pertain to what American children are eating. She also has influenced how certain people can purchase foods. For example, families on public assistance are only allowed to buy certain foods, healthier options, if they would like to use the governments help to feed their families.
It is recommended to take in a cup and a half of fruit a day and I only took in 0.3 cups. I took in only 9% of the recommended dairy, which doesn’t surprise me again because I don’t like milk and cheese isn’t my favorite either. I should have taken in about 3 cups per day of diary and only actual took in 0.3 cups. However, I took in over 60% of my
Instead of monitoring the calories of the meals they serve us, the plan should be to monitor chemical and the purity of the composition of ingredients. High fructose corn syrup is a chemically formed common alternative to sugar that is found in common drinks found in school cafeterias. Sugar is not only a healthier option (surprisingly) but it is also necessary and doesn’t have many health problems associated with it, while corn syrup is shown to destroy liver. However, the issue of the amount of money that it would take to institute such a healthy initiative plan, is mountainous. Instead, an easier alternative would be to educate people on the dangers and results of eating unhealthily as well as ensuring the process of making processed foods cost more than the healthier alternatives such as fruit and 100% juice products.
For a school to be reimbursed a vegetable does not need to be eaten and is often not required as a part of lunch. Schools allow the students options allowing for less waste and therefore more money. When choosing what food to serve the options are selected with the objective that the students must take an entrée and a side for the meal to be reimbursable. “The National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs cost a total of $11.7 billion a year. By comparison, healthcare spending on obesity is already $147 billion” “Healthcare costs are 42% higher for someone who is obese – that’s over $1,400 each” (Oliver, Killer Facts, para.