What next???

[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.