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

Happy 2012/04/22 03:51:55

No

But they should have both options

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Minarchist 2012/04/22 03:03:54

No

That goes against the freedom to fail concept

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KB 2012/04/22 03:00:18

No

So when did the government get to decide what I can and can't eat?

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DuncanONeil 2012/04/22 02:54:26 (edited)

No

One person's "junk food" is another's treat!

The Government has no right to tell me, or my kids, what we can eat or drink!!

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GrumpyCat to DuncanO... 2012/04/22 02:57:20

You know you can always GIVE them the chips and not have to pay the markups at schools...

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DuncanO... to GrumpyCat 2012/04/22 04:02:04

Schools use the machines as a fundraising tool!

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ProjectKrauser 2012/04/22 02:53:46

No

Hell no,student's in general love a good snack before class asnd after class especially if the teacherr or teacher's assistant is picking up stuff for the class!

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Hales 2012/04/22 02:46:56

No

+1
Baked chips is fine. But what school is still selling candy and soda??

Kids are still going to be bringing junk food to the school anyway.

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Lady Mo... to Hales 2012/04/22 04:17:00

+1
Our school has 3 vending machines because the first one ran out WAY to fast!

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Hales to Lady Mo... 2012/04/23 18:10:14

At my high school, they used to sell Tropicana drinks that sold out more than water, and littered the school. X.X

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Lady Mo... to Hales 2012/04/24 23:51:50

Wow..... =D

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Quiet-is-feared 2012/04/22 02:46:39

No

+3
No.
Its the kids choice to eat it or not.
Who cares if they have candy or what not during their busy day of school, maybe thats the only bit of happiness they look forward to, lol.
School kids are alot more active then what these health-obsessed people think, so no junk food shouldnt be banned.

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GrumpyCat to Quiet-i... 2012/04/22 02:57:42

+1
You know they could always BRING them to school and not have to pay the markups.

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Melody 2012/04/22 02:43:32

Yes

School's purpose is to educate, and while it still does a crappy job doing that, it should remain the only purpose of school. It should be filled with students getting to class on time and focusing on getting their work done, not passing countless soda and snack machines, wasting time, money, and their PE class on empty calories.

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TrailOfTears 2012/04/22 02:21:51

No

+1
They've tried pulling this crap at my school. All they have in the hallway vending machines are water and granola bars. I just sneak into the teachers lounge and get a soda and a bag of chips XD

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AskZilla to TrailOf... 2012/05/27 10:10:56

And why is it that you are so adamant on having junk food? You don't realize you are being duped or cheating yourself?

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TrailOf... to AskZilla 2012/05/27 20:41:37

because im not paying $2 for a mini bottle of water in the hallway when i can spend $1 in the teachers lounge and get a large bottle of soda.

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AskZilla to TrailOf... 2012/05/31 09:55:04 (edited)

Oh I get it, so you'd rather buy the stuff that's going to hinder your concentration, grade performance, pollute your organs, hinder alertness, cause fatique, glycemic spikes, and possibly modify your behavior, just because it costs less. Wow, a real bargain :\ The food industry has you right where they want you.

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TrailOf... to AskZilla 2012/06/03 01:57:12

it tastes better, is cheaper in my school, and does not seem to affect me too much. Besides, its not as if im drinking 5 cans a day or anything; i limit myself.

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AskZilla to TrailOf... 2012/06/04 05:41:42

Many people don't know how to limit themselves. They're food and beverage junkies.

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TrailOf... to AskZilla 2012/06/05 17:12:20

aient that hard, just have one a day

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AskZilla to TrailOf... 2012/06/12 03:32:44

Easy for us to say. There are a lot of fat people where I work. Every time I go into any one of their offices, they're always shoving food in their mouths. And it's not healthy food. It's packaged snack food, which is some of the most unhealthy and most caloric fat laden food on the planet.

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TrailOf... to AskZilla 2012/06/13 03:07:31

desk job?

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AskZilla to TrailOf... 2012/06/19 22:01:23

They have desk jobs, yes. Ever notice how sexy firemen and construction workers are? These jobs are very physically demanding. As it turns out, that's good for the body. Our bodies were not designed to sit to oblivion

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TrailOf... to AskZilla 2012/06/23 04:59:32

lol, i dont think i could stand a desk job. id b bored 2 death.

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Dave The Canuck 2012/04/22 02:16:41

No

+2
Ban junk food at school and students will just go find junk food elsewhere.

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sandra 2012/04/22 02:07:33

No

No! as long as they eat good at home , what`s wrong with a little junk food now and then.
If they are so concerned about junk food consumption they should ban the companies for making it period ! And fine the companies for putting their pop machines in public places and so on. ...I wish people would just let lose on some issues.Like I said as long as they eat healthy during their daily meals, junk food should be ok in between.

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BIG BAD JOHN R. 2012/04/22 02:06:48

No

If anyone should ban the junk food its the parents, they are the one's eating it!

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Jen 2012/04/22 00:18:51

No

+1
They should make the junk food healthier. Sometimes students have lunch late in the day, and get hungry. Hunger is a distraction. It's a bad idea.

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Lady Mo... to Jen 2012/04/22 04:21:14

+3
Yeah! If they could make junk food taste the same, but healthy! All my mom puts In my lunch is healthy crap. But I notice that my friends, who bring a lot of junk food are hungrier more often. My mom said that healthy food helps you stay awake and it stays in you longer.

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Lady Mo... to Jen 2012/04/22 04:23:54

+2
Yeah! If they could make junk food taste the same, but healthy! All my mom puts In my lunch is healthy crap. But I notice that my friends, who bring a lot of junk food are hungrier more often. My mom said that healthy food helps you stay awake and it stays in you longer.

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Jen to Lady Mo... 2012/04/22 16:00:55

I eat school lunch and since I'm a vegetarian, it's always pizza. Healthy food does and it actually makes you full.

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Jessica 2012/04/22 00:03:17

No

+1
I think it sould be up to the state or the school to decide whether or not to ban junk food. My school already has certain bans. We can only purchase water, diet soda, juice, or power aid in the drink machines. The vending machines are less strict though. I think the worse things we have in the vending machines are rice krispie treats and poptarts.

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Miko Mikomiko 2012/04/22 00:02:29

No

+1

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Pikachu 2012/04/21 23:24:00

No

Is that girl drinking orange juice in the photo? LOL

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Drachen 2012/04/21 23:19:01

No

+1
This is annoying me. The kids who aren't fat and unhealthy should be able to purchase junk food and soda if they prefer. Why not ban all foods except for government-approved rice cakes?

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AskZilla to Drachen 2012/04/21 23:45:58 (edited)

+1
You don't seem to get it. Many people don't seem to have the slightest clue as to what good nutrition is or don't care. Now this wouldn't be a problem, if it didn't effect their behavior negatively, but it does. It can make the difference as to whether people get into fights, get put on meds, or get good grades or not.

And then, we're the ones that have to pick up the tab for your nasty fat asses when you get sick or have mental problems.

Why don't you grow up and do some research, instead of just blurting out nonsense from your genitals?

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Drachen to AskZilla 2012/04/22 00:21:37

+1
Why don't we try to educate these children instead of unnecessarily banning food?

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sandra to Drachen 2012/04/22 02:37:36

I agree with you, I let my kids eat junk food within moderation, and I do teach them the importance of excersice and healthy eating. And I do make sure my kids eat their fruits and veggies on a daily basis.
Of course if we let them sit and eat a whole cake or pie everyday ,that wouldn`t be good. But a chocolate bar every now and then shouldn`t hurt.

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DanC to AskZilla 2012/04/22 00:31:51

+1
>>>It can make the difference as to whether people get into fights, bet put on meds, or get good grades or not. <<<

Really? Show us the verifiable evidence please! I hope you have the necessary knowledge to check the scientific rigor and validity of any study that claims such things, otherwise...

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