August 12, 2007

Don't let them eat cake

Last weekend a friend was telling me that she received a letter in the mail from her kids' school informing parents that "in an effort to curb childhood obesity," food from home was no longer allowed at school. Basically this means no god damned cupcakes for birthdays!

Seriously? Have we actually gotten to this point? I begrudgingly gave up my Halloween costume for Storybook Character Day. I even sucked it up and pretended to be happy that I would no longer have to stand on a wobbly desk to secure my holiday lights to paperclips in the ceiling.

But come on! A kid can't even bring in a Rice Krispie treat with a candle in it anymore? (Oh, wait, I forgot. No more candles, either. Fire hazard.)

Here's a better idea. How about we start combating childhood obesity by offering kids something OTHER than french fries, nachos and mystery meat in the lunch line. Canned green beans and little containers of iceberg lettuce aren't going to cut it. Sweets and treats in moderation won't cause obesity if the overwhelming proportions of a child's diet consist of whole grains, vegetables, fruits and moderate proteins. And don't get me started on pouring rights. Feel free to get rid of the soda machines that freely dispense liquid sugar on a daily basis before you forbid a miniature box of conversation hearts on Valentine's Day.

It's sad and typical that the company line is always "forbid X so we can't be blamed for Y," instead of looking for opportunities to try to initiate some change, even if it means taking an unorthodox approach. Something along the lines of Jamie Oliver's effing awesome Feed Me Better - School Dinners campaign, which has the potential to revolutionize nutrition in schools - the place where many children partake in at least one major meal (for some, the only meal) of the day.

Yeah, I'm not in favor of the junk banning on principle, although I do like his junk amnesty thing where kids are basically encouraged to "trade" their junk snacks for more healthful ones when they arrive at school. Giving children the option to reject the crap their parents have the fundamental right to put in their knapsacks in favor of another choice that's theirs to make is awesome.

For the past couple of years I’ve been campaigning to ban the junk in schools and get kids eating fresh, tasty nutritious food instead.

Key word in there from Jamie Oliver in bold. The second half of his idea, which you're supporting here, is right on. The first half? Not so much.

Britain, well at least the fatties, HATES his school dinners campaign. Parents have been known to stand outside the schoolyard and hand kids junk food through the fence so they can sneak eat. This isn't really a commentary on what you wrote so much as a change to say that I think that's fucking hot shit.