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Consumed by consumption

We have become a society consumed with consumption. Today’s hot ticket: food and drink. How many times in the past few months have you been informed by mainstream media (television, radio, newspaper, and magazine) that you are fat, your kids are fat, your neighbor’s fat, your momma’s fat. . .? You get the picture.

I’m writing this column in a hotel room in Springfield, Illinois, where a national newspaper is delivered to my door. A front-page story informs readers that concerns about obesity are bringing about changes in traditional kid’s menus at several restaurant chains. I think it’s a great idea to offer variety. Many of these restaurants have plans to take the traditional French fries, hot dogs, and other “kiddy foods” off the menu.

When I was a kid, we ate almost all of our meals at home, school, or at a relative’s house. Going out to eat at McDonald’s was a family treat. Of course we wanted hamburgers and French fries! That was part of the “experience.” The fast-food menu in 1972 offered little variety, but we didn’t eat there more than once a month. More families eat meals away from home than they did when I was a kid, so there probably is a greater need to offer more choices.

We didn’t drink soda with every meal when I was a kid, either. Soda was a treat. As you’ve probably heard by now, soda is being blamed for today’s childhood obesity.
According to consumerfreedom.com, research at Harvard University speculates about a casual relationship between the consumption of soda and childhood health problems. There was no conclusive evidence presented by this research. The Centers for Disease Control states, “There is no clear evidence that the consumption of sugar per se. . .causes obesity.” Yet, there is legislation in the pipeline to control soda consumption in our children’s diet. I believe it is simply not up to the government to decide what our children can and cannot eat and drink. Can we not self-regulate? Do we have to have legislation controlling everything we do? Are today’s parents incapable of making those decisions?

Should we have soda machines in grade schools? I personally do not believe we should. Most 6-year olds, given the opportunity, will drink as many sodas in a day as they can get away with, if they like soda. Grade school children are not always prepared to make those choices. In my opinion, they need their parents to make those choices for them.
Let them have a soda as a snack after they’ve had the opportunity to run around the yard, climb a tree, or shoot some baskets.

The National Bureau of Economic Research states “60 percent of American’s weight gain between 1976 and 1994 is attributable to sedentary lifestyles.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics states “Only 20 percent of children were involved in daily physical education programs in 1999 compared to 80 percent in 1969.”

It doesn’t take a brain trust to make the connection.

Are 61% of Americans really overweight? If we follow the government standards for what is obese, consumerfreedom.com says that Arnold Schwarzenegger and Tom Cruise are obese. According to consumerfreedom.com, using the government BMI index, Brad Pitt and George Clooney are overweight. Even our President is overweight, according to government standards.

I think Congress should concern themselves with “big picture” issues, and leave us to take care of our own eating, drinking and exercising habits. And maybe you need to turn off the television and find some chores for the kids to do that will burn some of those calories, clear their minds, and energize their imagination. Who knows? One of this little rug-rats could be our next Senator.