Fat Tax?

[JoeD]

Originally Posted by Cyndalie

It wouldn't change a damn thing. Taxing softdrinks isn't going to stop kids from getting fat. How about physical education credits and and programs with rewards kids can earn to get things like food and toys.

Exactly, this tax proposal has nothing to do with curbing obesity and everything to do with creative government fund raising. Physical education has been removed from school curricula partly because of budget cuts and mainly in the US because of injury legal liability... When I was in school and got hurt, they bound me up and told me to be more careful. Now someone gets hurt and it's like winning the lottery...

Instead of judo in the rec center, they play mortal combat. Instead of building wagons, forts and go-carts, they play video games. What kids still walk to school? Oh, wait, they can't; it's not safe...

And let's not even start on the personal and family responsibility issues...

Hey Robert! - is he one of your webcam performers?

[DonMike]

That's the issue here. The food industry is so focused on making money that they are not above selling out our kids to make a buck. I grew up eating Count Chocula, Froot Loops (selling sugar AND illiteracy), Fruity Pebbles and many others. If it didn't have tons of sugar and a prize in the bottom of the box I didn't eat it. Except when I ate Live when I wanted to feel adult (because there was no cartoon character on the box). My childhood friends were Twinkie the Kid and Cheeto the Cheeta. And things are worse now then they were back then. At least in between all the junk food I ate I had real meals. Fast food was a treat, not an every day meal. And still I always had a belly. So what chance do these kids have today when things are much worse.

So in typical fashion they are trying to put a bandaid on the problem rather than fix it. If we can't get the food industry to promote healthier foods then how about education, giving kids better options. My mom used to always say, "you should eat fruit instead of candy" but then she always bought red apples and oranges. It wasn't until I discovered Kiwi, Starfruit, Pineapple and Granny Smith Apples that I found I liked fruit but that wasn't until adulthood. If you give kids boring healthy options they'll never get excited about eating healthy. Lowfat Yogurt sprinkled with granola and colorful berries will be more of a treat for them than a tub of Yoplait. All natural peanut butter on whole grain bread will be an easy switch from Skippy on white bread. And spending time with a child while teaching them how wonderful healthy food can be will be a lot more effective than throwing a red apple in a lunch bag. It's up to the parents to teach kids healthy eating and the schools to have physical fitness programs put on by people other than ex-athletes who try to relive their glory days through high school sports teams and who bully and pick on the kids who aren't athletic.

[TheLegacy]

Originally Posted by JoeD

Hey Robert! - is he one of your webcam performers?

I do agree with the idea of curbing healthy eating - but it does start with setting an example. Kids tend to watch TV - games etc. or computer and snack more than every at that time. Plus I do remember as a kid loving all the bad stuff, but it was my mom and adults that made me plan a better eating schedule.

JoeD - if one performer could get me that much exposure then I would want him on staff LOL - but sadly he is not one of my performers, though I can't comment as to how many members fit that profile