Let's talk about soda...

I think offering classes in nutrition is a great idea.  I think requiring classes in nutrition is insulting.  A couple years ago, when my disabled nephew lived with me briefly, I got food stamps for him.  I would not have liked being required to attend a nutrition class.  Honestly, I think I know more about good nutrition than some nutritionists.  In addition, I am a vegetarian and I have had RNY.  I bet none of the information in such a class would have really applied to me.  Sure, I'd jump through whatever hoops I had to in order to get help that I needed.  But I would find it offensive that the government would assume that because I am poor, I don't know how to eat healthy.

You can turn this argument around for unemployment, though, too. When I was laid off, in order to get unemployment, I had to attend classes on how to do a resume and prepare for interviewing and learn to speak in front of others. At that point in my life, I had been an attorney (a litigator) for over 6 years. I'm pretty sure I knew how to talk in front of people and sell myself. It was awful, insulting, and humiliating. I finally was able to be excused from these weekly classes by showing those in charge that I was doing absolutely everything within my power to get an actual paying job since unemployment was only paying me 1/4 of what I was making before.

I understand the need to offer these classes, and I even understand the need to require them (to ensure the recipient is actually looking for a job and that they have the skills to help them do so), but it was awful for me given my situation.

I'm not a fan of "big brother" trying to "help" me make good decisions.  Overeating is just like other vices:  If you limit one fix, another will be found.  And this proposal is just stupid.  Okay, Mr. Mayor, limit the size (and I'm assuming refills?) but I can still get as many two liter bottles as I want at the grocery store.  It is just moronic. 

Fat people know they are fat, and I'll bet the vast majority know WHY they are fat.  The obesity issue is a matter of personal choice and motivation, which is INTERNAL.  Until a person wants to change, they will not change.  How many smokers do you know that put the cigs down due to the warning label?  I know of none.  Taxing the crap out of them doesn't make them quit either. It has to be a personal choice, when the personal time is right.

I do think we could do a better job at reaching our kids early with education directly related to nutrition and exercise, and we should put exercise back into the schools.  Unfortunately, though, they are at the mercy of their parents, so regardless of how much they know, they are helpless when the parents are calling the shots and making the food decisions.

WLS is a good tool ONCE THE PERSON HAS MADE UP THEIR MIND TO PERMANENTLY CHANGE. Many get WLS only to end up obese again, so while it is an option, again, it depends on the mindset of the individual what the success level will be.

 

The whole New York law irks me. The first thing that gets me is how much a new law costs to pass. So why pass one that is so boneheaded? I don't see it working at all. It is neither effective nor sustainable and it is a money pit. Talk about throwing good money after bad. I would much rather see that money going into food programs and nutrition education.

The second thing that sticks in my craw is that it is hard enough to change ourselves, let alone anyone else. We can legislate until we are blue in the face, and it still isn't going to do any good. There will always be rebellious folks who want something simply because they cannot have it, and there will always be folks who want what they want regardless of the risk. If only it were that easy to legislate good health. Let's pass a couple of laws and soon we'll all be healthy and trim.

I do like your idea of pictures of donuts or what have you to give a visual on how much sugar is in a large drink. I think most people don't count liquid calories or count them well. A visual would at least give them a comparison.

And when did we make the shift that everything we drink has to have a flavor? Coffee can't just be coffee flavored, and neither can water. Strange. For that I blame companies looking for a profit and the marketing machine. Everything has to be new and improved. Nothing is ever good enough as is.

 

I think the government should spend their time and our money more wisely. There are far bigger things to fight then large sodas. Not to mention that we as Americans have the right to eat/drink as we choose, even if it makes us morbidly obese. Just because 6 cans of soda a day put weight on me it did not put weight on my husband. We have different bodies, different metabolism. He can eat 2 packages of nutty bars in two days and not gain an ounce. If I did that I'd of put on weight every single week. So should his choice be taken away? I don't believe so, not by the government, not by me.

At what point do we as Americans get back to responsibility? We are responsible for ourselves. We are responsible for what we put in our mouth, whether or not we exercise, whether or not we take the time to educate ourselves.

Just because a restaurant serves something does not mean we need to eat it, or eat all of it. Restaurants wouldn't serve such big meals if they weren't in demand. They could make as much money or more serving smaller portions if that is what people want to buy. If I go to my local "family restaurant" and order a steak sandwich for 9.95, it comes with either a cup of soup or a salad, a strip steak on a french roll and a half a plate of fries. Realistically I should of ate 1/2 the steak none of the french bread and maybe the soup or salad. Would I still have paid 9.95 for it? I would, it's that good. But others probably would not. They like the feeling of getting more bang for their buck. To stay in business these restaurants serve as much as they can for the $ they charge you. Unfortunately for our health the foods that are cheapest for them to fill us up with are not the healthiest, they add bread, potatoes etc. at the cost of our waist lines and our health.

Should we blame the restaurant? no, if it didn't sell or gain business it wouldn't happen, it goes back to the responsibility being our own. We demand demand demand and then cry foul when our demands are met and the cost is greater then we expected (weight and health). Shame on us, not shame on them.

What is the answer? education. Starting in Kindergarten and through to 12th grade. Each year there should be a health/nutrition class that hits home with that age group, and morphs as the child does. It should educate them at a level they understand and inspire them to take the knowledge home. Will all the parents learn? nope, but it has to start somewhere, some time. The time is now before the obesity levels in this country are at 100%.

When we start learning and changing our habits the restaurants will change theirs to fit what is in demand.

Definitely ****LIKE****

I wouldn't say I am a fan of the law in the way it was written, but here's my two cents.   Soda is a cup full of chemicals and poison.     Its crap and has no nutritional or helpful value and in large quantities is dangerous.   Because you don't drop dead the second you drink it makes it harder to make a law about its use, but really just because it may taste good doesn't mean anyone should ingest it.   

I do agree education is important and a much better way to manage the issue.  The problem is, though, that I don't think the education component can be legally enforced either.   The school has curriculum requirements now to cover healthy nutrition and enforce these nutrition guidelines in the classroom snacks and even meals.  HOWEVER, not every body needs the same thing to be healthy.  My daughter has a disease that makes it hard to absorb fats and calories.  She has a feeding tube and needs to eat (at 7 years of age) almost 3000 calories a day filled with salt and fat.   Her teachers are teaching concepts that are contrary to what her doctor wants for her and its really frustrating to have to re-teach her what is healthy for her isn't the same as what is healthy for everyone else.   Curriculum and education needs flexibility so that people can make the right decisions for themselves and family.    

I do like the idea of the soda cups having the sugar and chemical information on them, so people can make good choices -- but sadly soda has a huge profit margin for most places, they don't want to limit the intake because its a gold mine for the companies.

So many really excellent comments have been made today.  I'm so happy to see most of you mention taking personal responsibility.  Until people have to feel a little pain for their failings they will never change, especially if the government takes care of them.  We pay taxes and many years it has been a struggle to pay them on time.  Just because many people pay doesn't mean we want to see it going to pay for services for people that could avoid it if they had the will power and education.     So if Mayor Bloomberg brings attention to it in this way maybe it will start a lot of discussion and have an  impression on the general public.  I don't think it will become a law. There is a huge amount of medicare fraud in the health equipment industry.  So much has been wasted it makes me sick.  

 I'm glad WLS opportunity is here for those who have medical coverage or company benefits, and especially for diabetics etc.  It's time that some of us who have been fortunate to learn firsthand how to manage a diet and nutrition to look around your own community and start some programs for kids and their moms or dads.  At least go into your schools and talk to the principal or teacher.  Offer a program at your public library or church.  

I hope I didn't offend anyone but I'm quite concerned about our grandchildren and future generations not suffering because this generation didn't manage the company funds to the best of their ability. 

most people here weren't even worrying about it, knowing it wouldn't get put into effect. they were showing restaurant owners on the news last week saying that they hadn't bought their new cups yet because it was going to be too expensive. apparently even bottle service at bars and clubs was going to have to change too and you wouldn't get the mixers with the bottle because they weren't going to be allowed to give out a pitcher of soda or bottle of cranberry juice, which is kind of ridiculous. and lets be honest here, if an adult really wants to drink their 30 oz of soda, they would just buy 2 16 oz bottles/glasses/whatever. it would have just ended up costing everyone more money for something that most likely would not be effective.

It comes down to personal responsibility. 

I don't need to government to by my nanny.