Obesity. It’s a common theme on news programs and in newspapers across the country. Everyone is puzzling over the nation’s high level of obesity – as though it is hard to understand where the problem lies.
Each year, the average American eats 10 pounds of chocolate. Hostess produces 500 million Twinkies a year. Manhattan is home to nearly 100 McDonald’s restaurants. The most popular meal ordered in sit-down restaurants in the United States is fried chicken. Need I say more?
It is blatantly obvious why we are a fat nation. I for one cannot sit through one more broadcast where a dubious reporter scrutinizes a French fry. Obesity has become a constant topic of discussion; everyone is trying to dissect the “epidemic” and it is driving me crazy.
Lately, a lot of attention has been given to the pubic school system and what it feeds children. Schools are now cutting back on soda and unhealthy menu items as parents demand healthier choices. It is great that people are finally paying attention to the food that’s served, but not enough is being done.
When my high school began making changes to the food it served, the task was approached half-heartedly and with some backward logic.
The school removed the soda vending machines in the cafeteria and replaced them with fruit juice and milk. Great move; the milk became wildly popular. However, at least five soda machines remained elsewhere on campus. You cannot expect students to stop drinking soda just by removing cafeteria machines, especially not when all they have to do to procure a soft drink is to walk an extra 20 feet to a machine outside the cafeteria.
The salad bar was expanded and sandwiches were made ahead of time. This was also great move; it appeared quite a few students would rather grab a ready-made sandwich than stand in line for pizza. Unfortunately, these changes did not prevent students from eating a basket of fries for lunch (a practice I have seen many times).
In a rather bold move, the snack bar was purged of several unhealthy items, such as the fountain sodas. The chocolate, however, remained.
I found this to be quite puzzling. What is the justification for continuing to sell chocolate bars when the cafeteria is supposed to be reformed? After asking a few employees, I got my answer: Chocolate contains milk. Yes, the chocolate was allowed because the presence of milk gave it nutritional value. With this kind of logic, schools will never be able to provide healthy meals.
Luckily, not all school districts conduct themselves with such contradictory thought processes. On one news broadcast, an elementary school with a reformed cafeteria menu was featured. The school was free of soda and candy, and the cafeteria had a well-balanced meal for every child. This school district – and others like it – should be applauded for spending large amounts of time and effort to set up a healthier food program. The school did not receive the praise it deserves because nearly half of the student population was overweight or obese. Which means that it became time to shift the blame.
In this particular news broadcast, a map was pulled up showing the location of the school in relation to area grocery stores and mini marts. For the next five minutes, these mom-and-pop stores were closely examined and deemed responsible for poisoning our children with Cheetos and Snickers. Through some keen detective work, the reporter discovered that many of the elementary school children would walk home past these stores and purchase a wide array of fattening foods. But who is to blame for the children spending their allowance on chips and soda?
It is not fair to lay blame on stores that stock unhealthy food. Nor is it fair to point the finger at companies and fast food restaurants that make the products. These companies and stores are supplying the product that is in demand. If there was not a demand for fries and greasy cheeseburgers, McDonald’s would not be selling them.
When it comes to obesity and eating habits, the responsibility lies with the individual and the parent. At this point, with media coverage and movies such as “Super Size Me,” it is safe to assume the average adult has some concept of which foods are unhealthy. It is also easy enough, with public libraries and free Internet access, to determine what is OK to eat. I do understand how it can be hard to go with the healthy choice, especially when bad eating habits have already been established. But the only option is to realize the importance of eating well, and to establish better habits in today’s children. The parents are responsible for their child’s eating habits, just as they are responsible for their own diet; if a child is taught what to eat and why, he or she will be more likely to choose the healthy options at school. Ultimately, the parent is the one in charge of the child.
Wake up. Stop blaming the food manufacturer. Stop suing the fast food restaurant. Stop pointing the finger at the school cafeteria. Stop wondering why this country is obese.

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