Schwarzenegger Wants School Junk Food Ban

[flygal]

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050306/D88LMHNG0.html

snip

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - At the bodybuilding event named for him, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Sunday that he wants to ban all sales of junk food in California schools and fill vending machines with fresh fruits, vegetables and milk.

Schwarzenegger's comments came in during a question-and-answer session with fans, when a questioner asked how he plans to combat youth obesity.

"First of all, we in California this year are introducing legislation that would ban all the sale of junk food in the schools," Schwarzenegger said.

Aides said later that the governor supports a bill by Democratic state Sen. Martha Escutia that would ban soft drinks at public schools, and that the administration hopes to develop a more comprehensive legislative package dealing with snack foods.



can't post the whole article but ah-nold really plays the repug "do as I say, not as I did" line about steroids.

[Lucky Luciano]

1. Either way, I support this measure...too many fat kids

that will grow to be fat adults straining the healthcare system.

[Abelman]

2. I also

think this is a good idea.

It's good to get youth used to eating healthier.

[merwin]

6. I second that opinion. Somehow soda and candy companies got into the

schools... That's one place where they definately do not need to be.

[depakid]

3. It's a fine idea- and long overdue, except that

Arnold will have to be willing to replace the revenue the schools will forgo by cutting loose the crap food industry.

[The_Casual_Observer]

4. Imagine all that spoiled fruit, vegetables and milk!

Oh, and btw mr. I-have-all-the-answers dumbass, schools rely on the income brought in by tempting kids with that shit, including promotional money from the soda companies. Is arnold going to make up the difference? I doubt it.

[TahitiNut]

15. (lol) True. That junk food will still be 'edible' when dug up ...

... by archaeologists. Fresh foods would cut into the vending company profits. Heresy. We gotta indoctrinate them consumers-in-the-raw.

[yorkiemommie1]

53. yes

our school site is an adult school so the nutrition concerns weren't there as they would be in k-12. however, we had no desire for vending machines because of the mess and because we have a catering truck come during our 4 hour sessions. the Superintendent and school board had them installed anyway.... for the income.

[maxudargo]

5. I agree it is a good idea, yet another example of Arnold's strategy

of jumping aboard issues that are already winners so he can later claim it as another political victory for him and an example of his popularity and influence with the people. Basically the same strategy he uses by showing up at shopping malls on a Sunday afternoon so the reporters will talk about the large crowds he attracted. WELL, IT'S A MALL ON A SUNDAY, THERE WERE ALREADY GOING TO BE SOME PEOPLE THERE.

Notice that it is actually a bill sponsored by a Democrat.

[Squatch]

19. So, what's the problem?

:shrug:

If Schwarzenegger supports Democratic-sponsored measures, isn't that a good thing? Shit, tht's what we want.

[maxudargo]

46. No, Schwarzenegger taking credit for Democratic proposals

is not what we want.

We want Schwarzenegger weak. We want him shaping policy and restructuring government in this state as little as possible. We want him out of office as soon as possible. We hate Schwarzenegger and consider his election a disgrace, an affront to the very concept of a responsible citizenry.

No, we don't want him taking credit for popular Democratic proposals and making himself appear more influential and popular than he is. That's the problem.

[youthere]

47. Lets keep the junkfood there...

and let the kids develop heart disease and diabetes and grow mortally obese until we get our due recognition. I know this is not what you are literally saying, but come on! Dems didn't propose this because it would be good press, they proposed this because we have an epidemic in this nation-we've got kids with hardening of the arteries before they are teenagers! So lets do what needs to be done to get these kids on the right track.

[maxudargo]

51. Whatever.

I said I thought it was a good idea and then commented on how I felt Schwarzenegger was maneuvering to exploit it politically. If that's to complicated for your black-and-white mind, I don't know what to tell you.

[youthere]

52. Yeah "whatever" is right

He gets slammed for not supporting our issues and then he gets slammed for supporting our issues. Get a grip. The point is to do what's right. It's a good proposal and cheers to whoever supports it YES even AHNOLD. And THAT my friend is not black and white thinking.

[maxudargo]

57. Yeah, and Mussolini made the trains run on time

I don't know about "our" issues, but I know he embodies everything that is wrong with this country from "my" perspective. He is the trivialization of citizenship and represents the successful transformation of politics into entertainment, which is the real reason Democrats can't win - why anybody who approaches the citizenry respectfully and intelligently can't win. Personally, I don't give a fuck what issues he supports. He is the most important issue.

I wrote an article for DU about it the month before he was elected. You can read it here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/articles/03/09/06_conan.html

Fuck Arnold Schwarzenegger.

[truthisfreedom]

7. hmm. sounds good, in theory. just make sure they're high-quality apples,

not those stupid tiny woody "red delicious" apples that always get foisted on school kids. there are so many good apples available...

[Lucky Luciano]

8. haha red delicious apples do suck

the "delicious" is there just to get you to buy them....

Granny Smith apples rock! They have a great bite to them!

[bloodyjack]

33. Surely we can all agree that Fuji apples are where it is at

[d_b]

41. Fuji all the way.

[youthere]

48. no no no...

Pink Lady or Winesap. Fuji got nothing on them.

[SoCalDem]

55. BRAEBURNs are the ONLY apple for me

Fujis used to be good, but in the past few years, the ones I get are mealy and rubbery or bitter..:(

[rucky]

58. you must try honeycrisps

and pink ladys

along the same lines as braeburns

[TahitiNut]

28. The problem with Red Delicious' apples ...

... is solely attributable to commercialism. They're being bred and harvested for storage and transport, not taste. Once the hallmark for eating (instead of cooking), they've become tasteless and mealy. It's disgusting to seek the apple I enjoyed as a kid and taste these crap commercial apples not even good enough for applesauce. I remember swiping orchard apples as a kid in Michigan and enjoying a crisp, juicy Red Delicious in the late summer sun - even those destined for the cider mills were better than I can find today.

[Skittles]

9. those vending machines would stink up the place pronto

put the fruits and veggies in the cafeteria

[truthisfreedom]

10. i have a great idea for snacks. make it trail mix, with yogurt drops,

those sugary things, and roasted, salted sunflower nuts, and peanuts, and cheese covered popcorn. don't try to force kids to eat apples. give 'em snacks they'll eat, that will have some shelf life.

[JohnnyRingo]

11. I certainly have a problem when Pepsi™ tells the school board

that if they put a Pepsi™ machine in the cafeteria they'll ante up a few thou for the athletic team.......But if a Coke™ machine goes in, the deal's off.

It's just another corporate ploy at "brand recognition" and perpetuation of the "de-evolution" of America.

Our schools should not be for sale.

[Justyce]

12. As long as he doesn't push his steroid & marijuana fitness plan.

[tom_paine]

13. Naturally, this disgusting abuse of State Power over the Free Market

will go unremarked and unnoticed by the National Cadre of Goebbelsian Propagandists that Serve the Imperial Family.

Why? Because Gropenfuhrer is a member of THE PARTY. Hell, he may even be our next Emperor.

Therefore, this abuse of State Power over the Free Market IS ACCEPTABLE.

[mikelgb]

20. i agree

I know if I were still in school I would be pissed about it. The hypocrisy of adults controlling children was always an issue for me. One of the discriminations often overlooked is age.

I remember in high school the teachers area of the cafeteria had salad every day that the student were not offered. I even asked one time if I could buy a salad and was denied...its for the teachers.

Health classes should show documentaries like Super Size Me to teach kids the consequences of unhealthy choices. Teach moderation, don't abolish things.

Hypocrisy breeds dissent. This will lead to rebellious snack food eating. As my English teacher would always say: Show not tell. Don't tell kids what to do. Show them by example what the effects of unhealthy choices are. They are smart enough to figure it out.

Another overlooked aspect of this is often schools and the programs at the schools do fundraisers by having kids sell candy bars. This would likely be another lost source of funding.

Youth obesity is a problem and the junk food companies have a monopoly on snacks at schools. I think there should be a balance of healthy and unhealthy choices. And it isn't just the snack foods either. The "meals" schools offer as lunches can seldom be called healthy. They sell french fries with cheese sauce, pizza, a thing i remember called taco snack that was greasy mess of cheese and what I assume was beef wrapped in an unsightly yellow tortilla. Healthier choices should be offered indeed. If any legislation is passed it should simply call for good food to simply be offered.

[Guckert]

14. I want Roid raging, ass grabbing, name calling,3rd grade idiots banned f

from the State Capitol.

[RebelOne]

16. After watching "Super Size Me" for the 2nd time last night,

I can definitely agree with his stand on eliminating junk foods in schools.

[mikelgb]

21. no

That movie should be shown in schools allowing the kids to make informed decisions about their diet.

[w4rma]

17. This may be the only good proposal he's had since taking office. (nt)

[Trailrider1951]

18. Man, I really hate to admit it, but arnold is absolutely right

Get RID of the coke, pepsi, chips, sweets, fast food, etc. Replace them with milk, fruit juice, fruit, veggies, yogurt, and other healthy snacks. For some poor children, the food they get at school can be their only chance of getting these nutritious, high-dollar items. The crap they offer in the vending machines and at the fast food places on campus was not available when I went to public schools in the '60s, and an overweight child was a rare sight.

[Missy Vixen]

22. I wonder if he'll be installing

cigar vending machines in the schools instead. After all, he built his very own "smoking tent" to indulge, didn't he?

It's important for school children to eat a balanced and healthy diet, but it's hard for me to support the ramblings of a man whose own habits are less than healthy.

Julie

[Squatch]

23. That really makes no sense...

"It's important for school children to eat a balanced and healthy diet, but it's hard for me to support the ramblings of a man whose own habits are less than healthy."

So, do you have a problem with the proposed legislation, the proposer, or both?

[Missy Vixen]

27. Actually, it does

>So, do you have a problem with the proposed legislation, the proposer, or both?<

Arnold Schwartzenegger abused steroids. Arnold Schwartzenegger also continues to smoke cigars despite heart surgery a few years back. His habits are less than healthy, but he is going to tell the entire state what they can or cannot have in a school setting?

I have a problem with both the proposed legislation and the proposer of it. I agree with Skittles. Put the fresh fruits, vegetables and milk in the cafeteria. While they're at it, why not upgrade the school lunch program to feature more nutritious and attractive foods?

Where are schools going to get the funds currently being paid to them by soda companies? Schwartzenegger has already signaled that he will not make up those funds out of California's budget.

Also, if people think that this will eliminate candy, cookies and soda from the average school, they're dreaming. I remember those vending machines all through the 70's.

Julie

[GiovanniC]

31. I'm Not Sure I Fully Understand

A Republican you don't like is supporting a Democratic plan to help counter an issue that you acknowledge is a problem, but you can't support that because you don't feel the Republican lives up to the standards he's supporting?

So if Bill Frist came out and supported a Democratic plan to not kill and dissect cats, you would have trouble supporting that because of Frist's storied past?

[Missy Vixen]

36. Again

"Do as I say, not as I do".

>A Republican you don't like is supporting a Democratic plan to help counter an issue that you acknowledge is a problem, but you can't support that because you don't feel the Republican lives up to the standards he's supporting?<

The Republican does not live up to the standards he's advocating. What's more, he believes that everyone should just turn a blind eye to his hypocrisy. Furthermore, there is no FUNDING for Ahnold's latest bandwagon. He's ensured it.

Julie

[GiovanniC]

37. I Agree That Revenues Lost By Schools Due To This

Should be replaced.

But just because Arnold did not live up to certain standards does not mean that you should not support the same good standards he is now proposing.

It's sort of like if Janklow (the "R" representative from S.D. who got a vehicular manslaughter conviction) came out and said, "I strongly oppose killing people with your vehicle," and you said, "Oh, fuck THAT, I'm not going to support that position because he's a hypocrite."

The point is, just because someone is a hypocrite doesn't mean that the position that they are favoring is wrong. It just means that they are a hypocrite.

[TommyO]

40. Thank you for bringing this up

I was going to say that I'm all for the junk-food vending machine ban, as long as smoking in tents on government property is also banned.

[slackmaster]

24. I ate way too much sugar when I was a kid

It didn't kill me but I often wonder if I'd be in better shape today (at 47) if I had eaten less crap as a child and teen.

I support the idea in principle but have not read Senator Escutia's bill. The definition of "junk food" is critical; I don't want to see this turned into a cash cow for some packaged goods companies.

[muriel_volestrangler]

25. The UK can send him Jamie Oliver

celebrity TV chef, currently doing a series on food in a school cafeteria. He's denounced some of the processed food as "scrotum burgers" and there's actually a debate starting in the country because of it. I'd love to see him (young Cockney lad (well, really from Essex)) and Schwarzenegger on screen together. If they could understand each other, that is.

[bunkerbuster1]

43. Is that Jaime Oliver show going to be aired on FoodTV, or

only on BBC? I'm not aware of it.

Anyway, yeah, I'd like to see CA do what it can to improve school nutrition. Don't really care if it's credited to der Gropenator or not...

[lanlady]

26. to include the McDonald's concessions?

I've heard that schools in CA and elsewhere are replacing their cafeterias with McD/Wendy's concessions. Is Arnold going after those as well or just vending machines?

[LizW]

29. This is a good idea

even if it comes from a hypocritical jerk.

Schools should be serving more fresh fruits and vegetables, and milk or water only.

I recently found out that my middle schooler was buying bottled sweet tea every day instead of milk. I hit the roof. He has braces on his teeth and that sugar is just sitting there, decaying his teeth all afternoon (they don't have time to brush, even if he would do it). And I'm not even thinking about the caffeine.

He has been instructed NOT to buy it anymore, but I can't be sure unless I sneak into the school lunchroom and check on him occasionally. And other kids are sitting there drinking it.

I just wish they wouldn't sell the stuff.

Fortunately my kids are good eaters, and they usually pick the "good" lunch instead of the burger and fries. But I have been in the elementary school and have seen kids put nothing on their tray but nachos (chips and that nasty canned cheese) and a twinkie. Some of the elementary teachers make a special effort to watch what the children are choosing and guide their choices. But they shouldn't have to do this.

[DrZeeLit]

30. So, let's see if I've got this... he wants to cut school funding,

and teacher salaries, BUT he wants fresh food.

I wonder who is going to pay for that?

Personally, I'm all for better food on campus, especially younger kids. But cafeterias have extremely limited funds -- cans, boxes, and mixes help. They do not have the money or space for too much "fresh" food, even though many have added salads (which, btw, go unsold most of the time). Menu changes, vendor changes, and new equipment to support such changes will not be inexpensive.

Obviously, the major corporations which currently make a lot of money from vending machine sales and on-site food concessions won't be thrilled. This includes Taco Bell (big Repub contributions), McD's, Pizza Hut, and several others, plus Coca Cola and Pepsi (who fight over the rights to entire school district's machines).

Hmmm, I wonder if they will want to donate to "Ah" after he cuts their perpetual money-making operation(s)?

[Shakespeare]

32. That story is 2 days old--he's totally backed off this idea now.

After, I'm guessing, his big campaign donors connected with the junk food industry burned up his phone lines. It's one of the fastest 180s I've ever seen a politician do.

[Bo]

34. Excellent law..if passed

should be enacted all over the U.S. Fat kids make lousy students

[HockeyMom]

35. Reality

They tried to do this in our school district.

The REALITY:

Elementary Schools - The kids bring the junk food in from home, share the junk food with everybody else, or throw the healthy lunch in the garbage and then are starving later. They also found that when they introduced the healthy lunch program, fewer and fewer of the kids were buying lunch and more and more were bringing in lunch/junk food from home.

Middle Schools - About the same.

High School - Even worse. By this time they have money and cars. The Juniors and Seniors would take orders and drive to McD's and bring it back for those who didn't have cars. They took out the soda machines and it created a black market soda business. Some kids were bringing in 6 packs of Pepsi and SELLING it.

As the old saying goes, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. There was one first grader whose Mom never gave her anything but cheese and crackers for lunch. She said, "She won't eat anything else." I paid a few times for the girl's lunch but the only thing she would eat of the healthy lunch was a little bit of fruit. Unless the PARENTS are feeding the kids this kind of healthy food at home, the kids won't eat it.

[youthere]

50. No you can't

make a horse drink, but you don't withhold water from the horse.
If the parents want to buy crap for their kids that's one thing, but as a society we need to model appropriate behavior and healthy lifestyles.

Most kids will try alcohol before they graduate so if they are going to do it anyway maybe the school should make beer available? Or cigarettes?

Just because "they won't eat it anyway" we don't replace the "good stuff" with garbage. Why would anyone support enabling destructive behavior? For some reason people seem to view this as a punishment. Healthy eating doesn't mean just fruit and salad. Health bars, baked potato chips, low fat pudding, nuts, pretzels, peanut butter...and yes EVEN cheese and crackers are healthy alternatives.
I don't believe that children "ONLY" or "EVER" anything. I believe the parents lay that on their kids and perpetuate it. Yes healthy eating needs to be enforced at home, but it also needs to be modeled in the school.

[lebkuchen]

38. This is why CA got rid of Gray Davis? Junk food?

I thought Arnie was supposed to balance the state budget. How is that going?

[toopers]

39. Unfortunately, this idea will never work.

This has been tried in other schools. What ends up happening is that smart kids will start selling the sweets themselves at huge profits, basically creating a black market for candy contraband. I will try to find the link about this situation, but if I remember correctly some kids were clearing $200 a week, at least in the beginning. The schools ended up having to restock the vending machines with snacks that were a little more nutritious than candy, but still not "healthy".

[Something of Reason]

42. This doesn't solve the problem

Numerous studies show that the caloric intake of today's youth is similar to that of kids 30 years ago. I've talked to my parents about this and they've said the same things, namely that they used suck down junk food as often as they could. In fact, my dad says he probably ate more junk food as a kid than I did, because preservative technology had not come as far and fresh things were harder to get ahold of and more expensive.

The problem with fat kids stems from not enough physical activity. If my son or daughter wants to buy a snickers bar or soda in school, I don't have a problem with it. However, I do expcet them to get out and actually do physical activities whether its running around at the park or going to the pool or whatever. Kids getting home from school and plunking themselves down in front of the TV or Playstation, I think, is a bigger problem than snack food when it comes to the health of children.

We should also encourage parents to do things with their kids as opposed to just sending them out to run amok. I can't think of any occasion that I've recieved a negative response from my kids when I come home from work and offer to take them to the pool or the park. Spending time with your kids is such a healthy alternative to letting them be raised by Sony.

[KurtNYC]

44. There are many differences between the junk food of the 1970s

and those of today. Portion size is one. In 1975 machines dispensed 12 ounce cans of Coke and Pepsi -- now machines are increasingly dispensing only 20 ounce sizes; a 66% increase.

Soft drinks in 1975 were made with real sugar, sucrose, which the body reacts to more readily and with insulin which triggers a satiation response. Now soft drinks are made with high fructose corn syrup. Fructose does NOT trigger insulin secretion or satiation.

You can't eat junk food, work out and call it even. Why? Low bone density and other problems related to malnutrition.

The risk of osteoporosis depends in part on how much bone mass is built early in life. Girls build 92% of their bone mass by age 18, but if they don't consume enough calcium in their teenage years they cannot "catch up" later. That is why experts recommend higher calcium intakes for youths 9 to 18 than for adults 19 to 50. Currently, teenage girls are consuming only 60% of the recommended amount, with soft-drink drinkers consuming almost one-fifth less than nonconsumers.

While osteoporosis takes decades to develop, preliminary research suggests that drinking soda pop instead of milk can contribute to broken bones in children. One study found that children 3 to 15 years old who had suffered broken bones had lower bone density, which can result from low calcium intake.

http://www.cspinet.org/sodapop/liquid_candy.htm

[fryguy]

45. I can support this idea 100%, even while not supporting him at all

School cafeterias have become essentially mall food courts. Too many kids make meals out of soda, chips and pizza, not to mention corporate branding of schools. While saying things like filling vending machines with fruits and vegetables is pretty silly, the intent is a good one.....

[ProfessorGAC]

49. Does He Want A School Steroid Ban?

Didn't think so.
The Professor

[SoCalDem]

54. I actually agree with him on this one..

Ham sandwiches and an apple/orange with a bottle of water would be preferable to the crap they get now:)

There are few kids who would starve if they skipped lunch also..

The districts just need to sever the contracts they have with pepsi/pizzahut/coke/carl's jr./del taco et al, and anounce that on such and such date, there will be NO candy, no chips, no soda pop, no sugar-juice, and no junk food.

Kids are not in solitary..they can load up on junk AFTER school, but during school hours they should only have access to things that are good for them , or at the very least...not BAD for them..

My high school had REAL food, cooked right there..In fact our cafeteria had such good food that the local merchants ate there. They paid twice what students were charged, and the athletic department got the 'extra" money. There were always at least 2 tables of "lunch visitors"..

Everything we had was made from scratch...

[Amfortas]

56. I think this is a good idea....

kids are gobbling up way tooo much empty calories.

[Zomby Woof]

59. A good start

But how about NO vending machines? We didn't have any in my high school, and we all turned out fine. I was amazed when I taught in the 90's that every high school by then had soda and candy machines. It isn't just the nutrition aspect, it's the behavior it induces, and the consumerism it fosters (as if that isn't well-developed by kindergarten).

The Gropenfuhrer is right about this one. Sometimes ideology takes a backseat to common sense.