First Lady Michelle Obama has activated a major campaign to better the health of Americans. Mainly due to the fact that obesity rates have tripled since 1980 and each year the public/private medical industry spends $150 billion to treat obesity-related conditions. One third of American children have improper nutrition and are not coming close to eating the recommended daily allowances of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. For that reason, last month the First Lady launched the “Let’s Move” health campaign that takes action to ensure that the public receives better access to healthy and affordable food in their communities.
There are too many communities with poor quality food resources that the First Lady describes as food deserts. In view of that, the Obama Administration has allocated $10 billion over the next decade to feed 31 million children at public schools. At the same time, the government invested an additional $400 million a year to the Healthy Food Financing Initiative that serves to help grocery and convenience stores in those food deserts to innovatively carry healthier food options.
Check out the new web site www.LetsMove.gov that has specialized tool kits and strategies to help increase access to nourishing and reasonably priced food throughout the underserved communities. The First Lady is quoted as saying, “our kids don’t decide what’s served to them at school or whether there’s time for gym classes or recess. Our kids don’t choose to make food products with tons of sugar and sodium in super-sized portions, and then to have those products marketed to them everywhere they turn. …and no matter how much they beg for pizza, fries and candy, ultimately, they are not, and should not, be the ones calling the shots at dinnertime.”
These plans are surely welcomed; however, individuals will have to make a much stronger self-discipline plan surrounding their personal eating habits. The aforementioned government initiatives will not change the layout of supermarket shelves that display for sale the many sugar-filled products from Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Kellogg, Nestlé, Mars, Hershey, Kraft, Unilever and Häagen-Dazs. Profit margins on packaged sweets are significant and companies in this line of business will not magnanimously yield their market positions and simply step aside for fresh fruits and vegetables. Likewise, the ever present McDonalds, Burger King, Jack in the Box, Shakey’s, Domino’s, Pizza Hut, Round Table, Papa John’s, Der Wienerschnitzel, IHOP, Baskin-Robbins, Dunkin' Donuts, & Yum! companies are single-minded about selling their fattening selections everywhere.
Most nutritionists/doctors suggest 55 to 75% of a daily diet consist of complex carbohydrates and 10 to 15% for protein. Sugars, added and natural, should make up less than 10%, and salt (sodium) should be restricted to less than five grams a day.
www.sugaralert.com
Dean Jones is a marketing strategist with Southland Partnership Corporation and such articles stem from too many enterprises taking advantage of our food and water supply. |
