A Supersized Future?
I think we’re all pretty aware by now that our society has a real problem with childhood obesity. Heck, some even call it an epidemic. And unfortunately, even though there’ve been attempts to try to educate parents and schools about making better menu choices available for our kids, the fact of the matter is that junk food is still being pushed on our shorties like beer at a frat party.
Take, for instance, the movie theater. It’s bad enough that you have to practically take out a second mortgage to cover the cost of the tickets, but then you’ve also gotta shovel out a fortune on snacks that are anything but good for your health. God help you if you ask for a little bit of butter on your popcorn – you might as well just check yourself straight into the ER for open heart surgery with the way they drown that poor, pitiful corn. And if you choose to forego the popcorn altogether? Well, then, your alternatives are hot dogs (AKA pig lips and bungholes) or nachos (AKA stale chips and canned cheese). We’re talkin’ real healthy stuff here, people. So it seems your best bet is to try and smuggle in whatever non-artery clogging treats you can cram into your purse to later eat in the dark.
Even worse than the movie theater, though, is the concession stand at the community swimming pool. I’m pretty sure there isn’t a single solitary thing on the menu that contains less than 8000 grams of fat. (Uh, cheese fries anyone?) And the real kicker is that you’re not allowed to bring in any outside food. Yep, you’re completely at the mercy of their crappy carte du jour. And naturally, the kids all flock to this God-awful eatery during the mandatory fifteen minute “safety break” every afternoon. I bet the dentist offices are all booming by summer’s end with cavity after cavity after cavity.
Now don’t get me wrong – I most certainly don’t believe in avoiding any and all junk food 24/7, 365 days a year. No, everything in moderation is my motto. What I do have a problem with, however, is not having ANY healthy options available. How are we supposed to teach our kids to make nutritious eating decisions when all they have to choose from is food that’s either fried or completely laced with sugar? The future of America doesn’t have to be supersized, does it?
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Category: Cooking, Dining, Mom Challenges, New Posts, Parenting
I feel like Beevis & Butthead, but I can’t get past “bungholes!” Will I ever grow up?
I hope none of us ever REALLY grow up, cause how boring would life be then??!!
Ditto on everything you stated! I’m all about options, and I’m not very tolerant when there aren’t any.
I totally hear you with your frustration here….and the older the kids get the harder it is to get them to avoid the crap food. I hate to be the food police, but to me, giving my kids the junk food on offer at most places is akin to offering him a cigarette.
Le sigh.
Congratulations, Jennie!!
I hear ya.
Unfortunately, a lot of places, like movie theaters & the public pool, don’t allow you to bring in your own healthy food, so you don’t have many choices. On the other hand, I’m glad that some fast-food chains are now offering apple slices and salad as healthy alternatives.
I agree! I even wish that as an adult I could have better options for myself at these places. It’s not just the kids, it’s the adults that need better options too.