What next???

[Freedom]

I think it is a move in the right direction~!

As a medical doc said on TV this morning, "most folks are too lazy to be able to carry two smaller ones." She also commented that sodas have absolutely NO nutritional benefit at all.

Personally, I think a tax should be added on any and all foods that are high in fat and carbs.

We stopped drinking soda at all in this house almost 10 years ago, now. There is just no reason to be taking in that sort of poison.

[pomtzu]

I know what his intentions are, but I really don't think it has a chance of a snowball in h&ll of ever being put into law. You can talk and educate till you're blue in the face, and people will consume the amount of food and drink that they want to. I drink Pepsi, but not that much - I buy an 8-pack of 12oz bottles once each month, and that lasts me the whole month, and no one else in the household drinks that much anymore either. We all drink the Crystal Light mixes in place of the sodas.

And if that NYC law on super size drinks passes, then can the burgers and fries be far behind??? Sorry folks - no more large orders of fries or double cheeseburgers - small and singles only!!! Afterall - those are much worse for you than that big drink anyway.

So where (and how), could they possibly draw the line. The way I see it, there is NO WAY!

[Catty1]

I know I would buy just one "large" drink, and if it is smaller by law, it makes no difference to me. To my brain, a "large" is a "large". I would never buy two small ones - for me, that is not how an impulse purchase works!

[catnapper]

Oh for the love of Grace! If someone wants something, they'll get it. Hubby is working hard on weening himself off sugary soft drinks. Some days he has none, some days he has two cans. Its much better than him drinking a 32 oz bottle every day. He'd still get his cola despite restaurants not serving large sizes.

Its like that stupid law to make getting the cold medicine they need to make meth harder.... it only aggravates the honest people by making us stand in line at the Pharmacy counter. The guys making meth still get their cold medicine easy-peezie. I just never have the Advil Cold and Sinus that works wonders on my sinus pain becuase its too much of a hassle to get to the pharmacy when the pharmacist is actually there, then stand in line, then swipe my ID, sign my life away for COLD MEDICINE. I'll just deal with the actual headache instead of going through the headache of getting the medicine.

[happylabs]

I understand his concern, but he is going about it the wrong way. How about educating people on how bad soft drinks are for us. I think they are addicting. I went off drinking soda about a month ago. I always feel better/healthier when I am not drinking it but it does taste good!

There are so many issues with food these days. High fructose corn syrup is in everything! And the commercials try to tell us it isn't that bad for us.

I could go off on a big tangent here about the FDA and what they say is good for us, but I won't.

[carole]

you can just go too far and become a nanny state, that is what they call NZ sometimes, i am all for healthy eating, etc etc, but when do you stop taking people's choices away from them, i actually think a tax on all junk food is a better idea and i support that much more.

We have just as much a problem here down under with obesity as anywhere else, if not more...

[Lady's Human]

Calling Dr. Cocteau, and have a happy happy joy joy day.

[K9soul]

Personally, I think a tax should be added on any and all foods that are high in fat and carbs.

Aside from the softdrink issue, I have to disagree with this sentiment. "Fatty" foods have been vilified way too much and more and more evidence is coming out that some whole fatty foods have a lot of nutritional value. In my opinion, you could never base a "punishment" type tax on foods based on fat or carbohydrate levels alone. Rice is a high carbohydrate food. Many of the Japanese eat rice as a staple (along with fatty fish) and yet they have one of the lowest obesity rates as a country.

The demons as I see it are too much processed foods, unneeded sugar, and portion sizes.

I personally think raising awareness is the best step that can be taken to help people make better lifestyle choices. I think there is something like 10 teaspoons of sugar in a can of cola. I wonder if many people even realize how much sugar they are taking in and how deadly that can be to a person's health.

I do think huge portion sizes at restaurants can make people feel they may as well clean their plate, etc. and can end up producing cravings for larger portions, but I don't know if legislating such a thing would make a dent or not.

[mrspunkysmom]

Aside from the softdrink issue, I have to disagree with this sentiment. "Fatty" foods have been vilified way too much and more and more evidence is coming out that some whole fatty foods have a lot of nutritional value. In my opinion, you could never base a "punishment" type tax on foods based on fat or carbohydrate levels alone. Rice is a high carbohydrate food. Many of the Japanese eat rice as a staple (along with fatty fish) and yet they have one of the lowest obesity rates as a country.

The demons as I see it are too much processed foods, unneeded sugar, and portion sizes.

I personally think raising awareness is the best step that can be taken to help people make better lifestyle choices. I think there is something like 10 teaspoons of sugar in a can of cola. I wonder if many people even realize how much sugar they are taking in and how deadly that can be to a person's health.

I do think huge portion sizes at restaurants can make people feel they may as well clean their plate, etc. and can end up producing cravings for larger portions, but I don't know if legislating such a thing would make a dent or not.

I agree with the portion sizes. Since being on a gluten free diet, I've also been reducing portion sizes. Gluten free has made that easier. I feel better. I've not really lost a lot of weight but have lost fat. I seem to be trimming some.

I still think education is the key to solving our obesity problem. We need to change our philosophy towards food as a country. That will take some time.