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E-mail a friendYOUNG VOICES
Kids in a Candy Store
I think we're all aware that Americans need to teach their children better eating habits. Recently, instead of leaving it up to parents, many states and local governments are weaning schools from unhealthy school menus and vending machines, all in the hopes that by limiting access to junk food, kids will magically come to the realization that the best way to live healthy is through a balanced diet. Too bad that plan has backfired.
The Drudge Report featured a very interesting story about what happened to one school that banned junk food, including candy and other sugary favorites. Even though these unhealthy options were no longer made available in the school lunch lines and vending machines, some students began lucrative candy-selling businesses, selling sugary confections and earning wads of cash.
So what was the result of the government's intervention? One teacher reported that there is as much candy and soda in his school as ever. As to the intent behind the program, the teacher said, “I think its original purpose was pretty good, but it doesn't seem to be making that big of a difference."
The best thing the government can do for people to promote healthier lifestyles is to stop legislating what kinds of foods can be ingested and start requiring transparency to inform buyers of what they are consuming. It may be easier to tell people that they can't have something, but wouldn't we all be much better off if we were told the facts and left to make up our own mind, whether that means eating a Chocolate Bunny during this Easter Holiday, or opting for a nutritious salad?