Should the U.S. Ban Junk Food at School? (Most Parents Think So)

by SodaHead Living Posted 2012/04/20 21:00:00

Related Topics: Junk Food, Schools, U.s., Childhood, School, Candy, Government, Healthier, 2012, USA, Obesity, Kids, Fat, Healthy, Public School, Eating

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	Yes	359 votes	44%
	No	454 votes	56%

The U.S. government is getting closer to effectively banning junk food in public schools -- and most parents think it's a great idea, according to a new poll, Reuters reports. The Kids' Safe and Healthful Foods Project's poll reveals that most people do not think chips, soda and candy bars should be sold in school vending machines or at school stores.

"What has changed in the last 30 years is that the childhood obesity epidemic has more than tripled," said Jessica Donze Black, a dietician who leads the Kids' Safe and Healthful Foods Project, according to Reuters. "The school environment has also changed... Today, there are a lot of other places throughout the day that compete with kids eating a healthy school meal."

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is expected to release new nutritional guidelines by June, updating standards from way back in 1979. Eighty percent of the 1,010 adults polled said they would support nutritional standards limiting the calories, fat and sodium in such foods. At a time when one-third of U.S. children are overweight or obese, healthier vending machines seem like a no-brainer to us. How about you?

+35

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Freeranger 2012/04/20 18:27:21

Yes

+13
I think so.......along with soda
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More polls by SodaHead Living

Brosia 2012/05/20 01:53:56

No

Most parents just don't want to have to be the bad guys and tell their kids "No". I have gone shopping any while I am buying my kids veggies and fruits that they like, I see people filling their carts with juice pouches, candy bars, mini cans of soda, and cookies of all shapes and sizes. Then, when you look at the kids waddling around behind the cart, you see that these are parents that give into their kids. More people need to say no. They sell popcorn and ice cream at my kids schools, and I don't allow my children to partake at all. They sometimes get mad at me for it, but they know that I will feed them with yummy things that are good for them. Also, we do have some deserts and treats, so they are not completely cut off from "kid friendly" foods. But it is all done with moderation in mind.

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bwood254 to Brosia 2012/09/05 04:59:15

+3
I think it should be allowed cutting kids off just makes the kids seem like they are not good enough to have that stuff which could result in a lower self esteem. I'm not saying give them cake and ice cream everyday, but a cookie with their lunch or a small bag of chips will not hurt them and it gives them something to interest them with their lunch. It is important to let kids learn to make decsions, but in moderation. Kids just need more education on eating schools don't need to try to accomodate for what some parents don't by making every kids suffer.

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Brosia to bwood254 2012/09/08 18:27:39
John Galt jr or Ron/jon 2012/05/11 11:56:38

Yes

+1
The government should be providing balanced information,
not telling us what to eat drink or smoke...

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SebaTheSociallyAwkwardPenguin 2012/05/10 00:02:02

No

THEY DONT SERVE ANY SUGAR OR CAFFEINE IN SCHOOLS HERE ANYMORE, WHAT THE F!CK?!

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Rambo Smurf 2012/04/30 03:20:50

No

+1
I like making my own decision about how my kids are raised.

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jackolantyrn356 2012/04/30 01:00:01

Yes

already been done. The fiid,quality has gonr up taste gone down. Pretty much inedible.

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H H 2012/04/25 15:28:41

Yes

+1
Junk food makes brain functioning suboptimal by a good amount. Today's junk food is more unhealthy than that of a generation or two ago because of the use of hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, and artificial sweeteners instead of natural ingredients.

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Shanra 2012/04/24 22:10:31 (edited)

No

+1
I want my junk food. :P

Besides that, everyone makes their own choices. Give them the information and educate them on how it can damage them and ways to still enjoy their junk food without going overboard. What they do after that is their choice.

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Tomus Megalomania 2012/04/24 16:30:15

No

+1
It is fine in moderation.

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Mr Game Fly 2012/04/23 23:15:44

No

No. Because kids are always gonna find some way to eat junk food in school. Taking it out of school is not gonna stop students from eating it.

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Jimbo 2012/04/23 21:21:03

No

+2
Educate your kids in self control. My kids get junk food...SOMETIMES.

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Jessie 2012/04/23 19:11:16

No

No way in hell!!!

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brunyon 2012/04/23 18:54:54

No

+1
Most parents are retards who shouldn't have had children.

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angel_cierra 2012/04/23 17:44:42

No

Pssh, those kids don't care.

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davyd god loving patriot 2012/04/23 17:36:49

No

+1
no way, we all know this is another lie by the left. This coming from the people that hate freedom, unless they say you can have some freedom. You know the saying " just another brick in the wall"

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3kidsandamom 2012/04/23 17:33:29

No

Do people really need the government to regulate everything they do? Seriously junk food is not the biggest issue the public school systems need to worry about. If people make poor choices in life you live with the consequences it doesn't mean we need those in power to micromanage everything for us!

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ryuu khan 2012/04/23 17:00:50
John T. 2012/04/23 16:37:30

Yes

If parents want their kids to have junk food at school, they should bring them from home.

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Sheila 2012/04/23 16:32:51

No

+1
If MOST parents think so then it really shouldn't be necessary. And, NO BANNING things in general is a good rule.... We are supposed to be a free country. Who is to say that the fun size candy bar I send in my kid's lunch is not a bribe/reward for good work? Why should they have the right?

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ice steel to Sheila 2012/04/23 19:23:57

+1
banning stuffs bad usually but kids shouldnt eat ONLY junkfood and its completely okay to eat some but not only

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cheaperthantherapy 2012/04/23 16:22:26

Yes

My last year of high school, they replaced all the sodas with diet and “zero” drinks and people still bought it. I think it’d teach healthier eating habits. For those people arguing “let parents do the parenting…” isn’t that exactly what this in? You can make kids eat healthy at home all you want, but what’s to stop them from going to school and loading up on cookies and candy and soda and chips? I wouldn’t say get rid of the vending machines entirely…just put healthier alternatives in them aside from cookies and candy.

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Sheila to cheaper... 2012/04/23 16:34:54 (edited)

+2
Do we teach them to make good choices by removing the bad choice? Is it still a choice at all if that is all there is? IMO taking it all away does more harm in that they can't choose well when the choice is allowed because they never had to learn choice.

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cheaper... to Sheila 2012/04/23 17:18:47 (edited)

+1
Fair point. But healthy eating habits often dictate how you’ll eat as an adult. If you’ve ever read the book Fast Food Nation they talk about how fast food restaurants are so successful in part because children who are raised on fast food become loyal customers throughout adulthood.
i.e. I was raised on skim milk, so now I continue to drink skim milk. I never had the choice of whole milk as a child, but I still return to what I’m accustomed to.

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Sheila to cheaper... 2012/04/23 17:33:42

+1
And that is fair as well. But I guess I am more of a rebel. I was raised in a home with NO junk food. Skim milk. Corn flakes never frosted flakes. When I joined the army I went bat-poop crazy on junk food and stayed with it for YEARS. Still drink whole milk. Freaks out my sister. She is still skim milk. We tease each other I call hers white water and she says how can you eat that milk. So maybe it doesn't matter as much as we think. Maybe it is all us, not how we were raised. Nature vs nurture arguement?

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Monty to cheaper... 2012/08/24 07:27:47

that diet pop is worse then the sugared pop

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Seeker of Truth - War Wizard 2012/04/23 16:00:33

No

+1
Let the parents teach their kids what they should eat... The kids usually get their money from their parents anyways.

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Vieuphoria 2012/04/23 15:58:04

Yes

If I ran a school, I probably would. A school is a place of learning, a learning which cannot be limited to the classroom. You cannot teach children about the benefits of healthy living etc within Physical Education and Science lessons, and then go on to serve them unhealthy food at lunchtimes. It's a total contradiction. They should be taught in every aspect of their school days, and the benefits will pay dividends in future.

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Reichstolz 2012/04/23 15:54:12

No

+4
How about having parents, parent.

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zbacku 2012/04/23 15:49:34

No

+1
This parent doesn't.

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suzanne 2012/04/23 15:49:04

No

+3
It should be up to the parents in each school district, this is a local issue not a federal one.

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tom C 2012/04/23 15:45:26

No

+2
Why.??...most of the reason kids eat junk food...is because thats what they have learned to like from their diet at HOME...

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Sheila to tom C 2012/04/23 16:36:56

+2
Or as a polor opposite to their diet at home. When I left home to join the military I had some issues because i was never allowed junk food at home so I went bat-poop crazy with junk food for a couple of years.....

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Kibelle 2012/04/23 14:50:19

Yes

+2
Not ban - just don't sell them.

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conservyT 2012/04/23 14:42:44

No

+2
I know when I was in Jr. High & High School my mother Never kept sweets/junk food in the house only fruits. So when I went to school that’s where I got my junk food fix.
So I say, let the teenagers get their sweets/ junk food fix; they need it from time to time.
Maybe have an alternative such as fat free or100% calorie options.

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jmc07806-PWCM-JLA 2012/04/23 14:23:36

No

+1
Just control the types they have available not all junk food is bad.

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Mina 2012/04/23 14:22:51

Yes

Junk food can be found anywhere.. let them hunt for it, it'll be good for the kids to work for it.

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Tasine 2012/04/23 13:58:38

No

+1
If parents think it should be banned, why punish all? Who gives their little dears money to take to school?

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Sheila to Tasine 2012/04/23 16:39:05

+2
My child spent her lunch money on crap and came home hungry one day. I said hun, you made the choice to buy that and no you will NOT have food before diner just like usual... She has either not done that again, or learned not to tell me.

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Tasine to Sheila 2012/04/23 17:35:37

+3
Amazing! Parenting actually works! Who'd have guessed? Too many parents enable their children in all sorts of bad behavior, rather than risk the little dear getting mad and dissing them. I shudder to think what would have happened to me if I ever dissed MY parents. Good for you. It's heartening to know that at least SOME actual parents still exist. My youngest son understands parenting - his 3 elder siblings haven't a clue!

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