Social Eating

I was reminded as I was spending time with my roommates how easy it is to just eat aimlessly while socializing. This is an interesting thing to think about because much of our eating habits have turned into something that is centered around being social. What I mean by that is that we plan specific activities around eating, such as going out to dinner, dinner parties, holiday parties complete with buffets and many more.

Now I am not saying that we should avoid going to the previously mentioned events but rather have an awareness of what we are putting into our mouth while we are catching up with friends.

Cynthia Sass wrote the article Overcome Social Eating Temptations in Shape magazine that discussed why social eating can be such a big problem and how to practically combat that. Sass argues that, "when it comes to social eating, the bad news is that it can be one of the strongest negative influences on the way we eat."

She then lists three strategies, specifically for women, that can be implemented in order to control the urge of social eating:

1. Consciously become the pacesetter
2. Break the "eatertainment" pattern
3. Turn to the web for support

Social eating is a problem not only for people in their twenties but springs up in all ages of life. Next time you are going to a social gathering where the main event is eating, consciously think about your limits before going and it will be an enjoyable time. 

Practical Healthy Living

It has now become obvious that health encompasses both nutrition and exercise. Those two have been determined to go hand-in-hand and that is important to realize when striving to maintain that healthy lifestyle.

Janet Robbins, an AFAA certified fitness instructor and personal trainer, believes it is important to "watch what you eat! Think of your body as a furnace and food is the fuel. You only need to stock the furnace to keep it burning and working."

Robbins has been in the fitness industry for over 24 years. She has spent all of those years being a Group Fitness instructor and 5 of those years as a personal trainer. She is also Power pump certified and a certified Zumba and Spin instructor.

She provides suggestions of how to be healthy both nutritionally and physically.
Nutrition:
5 things that should be eaten everyday:

• 2 eggs
• Protein shake
• 1/2 cup of vegetables
• 1/2 cup of fruit
• Oatmeal

Physical:

• Workout 5 days per week to lose weight
• Workout 3 days per week to maintain weight
• Have a balance between cardio and weight training
• Interval training and weight training is the best way to lose weight

Robbins summed up why she keeps doing what she's doing, "I love encouraging people and helping them achieve their goals. It's great to get paid to workout!"

One avid runner, Cady Kievanaar, weighed in on her workout and eating habits. She typically works out 5 days per week and burns a range of 250-750 calories per workout depending on the type of exercise.

Kievanaar, who will have her masters in Exercise Physiology in December from the University of Northern Colorado, notes that "if you want to lose weight you should burn more calories than you take in, and make those amounts equal if you want to maintain weight."

Her passion for running led her into studying the more complex reasons why the body works the way that it does. She wants to use that knowledge to eventually help athletes.

Another student here at Colorado State University is trying to put much of this into practice despite her busy school schedule. Rachel Welch, a Senior Business major, says that she works out on average 4-5 days a week, usually for one to two hours each time.

She gave a list of items that she eats for her meals that is practical for other college students.
Breakfast:

• If she has time, eggs and fruit
• If crunched for time, a whole grain bar

Lunch:

• Whole wheat pita pocket filled with turkey, spinach, and cheese with baked crackers as a side

Dinner:

• Chicken sausage with spinach (could also add whole wheat pasta)

"I do my best to try not to eat carbs after 5, but it's really hard so it takes a lot of effort," commented Welch on one of the aspects of her daily routine.

Losing weight and eating healthy is not meant to be a crash diet, but rather an entire change of lifestyle.

Realizing that eating healthy and being active is not an overwhelming task is the first step to take in pursuing a healthy lifestyle. Take it one day at a time and eventually these things will just become part of your daily routine.

Our View of Our Body

Focusing only on one side of the eating spectrum would be just plain ignorant, and would miss a big demographic of the American population. Eating disorders are another aspect of eating that grips many Americans and has just as many negative effects as obesity. 

In my opinion, it is often women who struggle with things like anorexia, bullimia or excessive dieting. Most of the time this immense pressure comes from media and the fact that skinny women tend to be the beauty ideal that we as women look up to. 

This video titled Eating Disorders--Attitudes Toward Ourselves need Changing/Educational Video PSA is an example of the way women view themselves because of societal pressure. 

One nonprofit organization called Girls Inc. works to empower and inspire girls despite all the negative influence they receive from society. Their goals are to "equip girls to achieve academically, lead healthy and physically active lives, manage money, navigate media messages, and discover an interest in science, technology, engineering and math."  

It is so important on both sides of the issue of weight to educate people that they don't have to fall on one side of the spectrum, there can be a middle ground and that can be embraced. Beauty does not have a worldwide definition. 

Money and Eating Healthy

While thinking about encouraging people to eat healthier, it crossed my mind that often money can be a hindering factor to be able to do that. Sometimes I have the desire to buy organic foods or more fruits or vegetables, but because those products are more expensive I am prohibited from doing so.

An organization in Denver had the same thought regarding money as a disabling factor in being able to eat healthy foods. The organization is called SAME Cafe and was founded by Brad and Libby Birky in October 2006. SAME is considered the first nonprofit restaurant in Denver, CO.

According to their website, their mission is to serve good food to the greater good intending to build a healthy community by providing the basic need of food in a dignified manner to any person who walks through the door.

The Birky's saw the need in the Denver area to reach out to those less fortunate to meet the basic need of meals. They don't want people to feel that they have to settle for non-nutritional foods because they cannot shop at stores such as Whole Foods.

Eating nutritional food should not feel like a burden. SAME, which is probably one of many organizations, sees that issue and is working to overcome that feeling. Organic and healthy food is unfortunately on the pricey side, and will stay that way, so efforts need to be made to counteract those prices.

Healthy living should be enjoyable and a way to build community through enjoying that health.

Thanksgiving Aftermath

While it has been three days since the Thanksgiving holiday, some of us still might feel like we are in a food coma. This past Thursday was all about gathering with family and friends to enjoy delectable foods while celebrating the journey of the Pilgrims to America. The feast accompanied with this day offers wonderful foods such as mashed potatoes, turkey, ham, green bean casseroles, and yams. However, all of these dishes may raise a concern: Is it okay to indulge in these somewhat unhealthy foods for one day?

My answer is: YES, please go for it! This is one day out of the year. I understand that some people are on diet plans or try to closely watch their calorie intake, but to be fair I think this day is viewed as a treat and a celebration, so it is not necessarily bad/unhealthy to make an exception for one day.

Author Cameron English wrote an article on Polymic discussing how indulging on one holiday, Thanksgiving or Christmas, is not what leads to people becoming obese. In fact, he encourages readers "to eat the food we wisely avoid (or should avoid) the rest of the year" not only because it's only one occasion but also because it helps to maintain a healthier diet.

When talking about enjoying these foods, he suggests that," instead of thinking of occasional splurges as lapses in judgment, you treat them as manageable parts of your lifestyle, and you learn to control your eating habits more effectively as a result."

English ends by arguing that it is not these one-time things that contribute to the obesity of Americans, but it's instead their eating habits the other 364 days of the year.

Holiday celebrations are meant to be fun, not something to be dreaded. Don't let the worry of weight-gain take over, but focus on what can change in your eating habits either before or after the holidays.

It is too hard to sit down at a Thanksgiving dinner and stare at all the delicious foods that have been prepared, let yourself and your kids enjoy this day for what it's worth but then be more disciplined in your eating habits on the normal days of the year.

TV in Relation to Children's Health

Two recent articles published by The National Post and USA Today focused on the negative effects watching television can have on kids.

The National Post article specifically honed in on the effects of eating meals in front of the TV and why that has a link to overweight children.

Dr. Catherine Birken, a pediatrician and researcher at Toronto's hospital for sick children, found that counseling parents on effects of TV-watching hasn't yet proven to be effective, but what they are discovering is that there are some positive effects stemming from not allowing kids to eat in-front of the TV.

When being distracted by other factors while eating, it often causes us to lose track of what we are consuming and how much. Sometimes a TV is put on in a home to distract kids while their parents are doing other things around the house, and if that is combined with food then there is no supervision over what is being consumed potentially leading to overeating.

The study published by USA Today proves that TV doesn't just have an effect on physical health. The study concluded that there was a link between number of hours of television watched and lower-attention during playtime, low-quality interactions between parents and children, and lower performance on cognitive activities.

Both of these articles just prove that children's health has so many facets and can be so easily influenced due to their young age. Television exposure is an easy aspect to fix and alter so there just needs to be that realization and change of action because of that realization.

Bullying: It Can Be Stopped

October was not only a month celebrated with costumes and candy, but also one of bully awareness. National Bullying Prevention Month, according to PACER, is a "time when communities can unite nationwide to raise awareness of bullying prevention through events, activities, outreach, and education."

I took a look into the Fort Collins community to see what schools do currently or did during this particular month to discuss bullying in their classrooms. My focus was on Dunn Elementary, an IB World School located at 501 S Washington Avenue.

Dottie Mark, a counselor at Dunn Elementary and Fossil Ridge High School, said, "We take it very seriously" when asked about dealing with bullying at Dunn.Mark discussed that there wasn't anything specific they did for the month of October to focus on bulllying, but the school constantly follows the guidelines of the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports Initiative (PBIS). PBIS wants to help schools in Colorado to have effective school settings through academics and behavior.

Mark says PBIS teaches kids to "Stop, walk and talk." The guidelines and strategies of PBIS are taught to staff and students each year at Dunn.

Pictured: Main entrance at Dunn Elementary

One parent, Brian Reed, feels like bullying isn't even an issue for his kindergartner who attends Dunn.

"They pretty much don't put up with that there. I take my kid there everyday and I've never seen any problem," Reed stated on Monday after picking his daughter up from school.

Haley, who will be turning 6 on Wednesday, shared her opinion from her first-hand experiences.
"One time, Connor was so mean to me after school. He got so mad at me, so mad. Him is always mean to me," she uttered as she animatedly told her story.

However, when asked what she was taught to do if she was ever bullied, she referred to the 'Stop, walk and talk' phrase. Evidently Dunn's bullying system is having an impact.

While Dunn did not do anything specific for the month of October to raise awareness on bullying, they place a high priority on not tolerating bullying year round. Educating the staff/faculty along with the students of what to look for in a bullying situation and how to address it is what makes Dunn's approach to bullying so effective within the school community.

Parental Lifestyles' Effects on Kids' Eating Habits

A study published today by the Science Daily presents results stating that, "Parents with a high number of stressors in their lives are more likely to have obese children, according to a new study by pediatric researchers." This study was published by Elizabeth Prout-Parks, M.D., who specializes in nutrition at the Children's Hospital in Philadelphia.

The factors that she believes are among parental stressors include: "poor physical and mental health, financial strain, and leading a single-parent household." This study forms the conclusion that because parents may be more stressed they do not want to spend time preparing a meal for their children. The one downfall of this study is that it is the only one that has found a connection between parental stress and child obesity.

Bringing it back to Fort Collins, the Compass of Larimer County presents statistics regarding the number of single women with children who are living in poverty. As of 2010, about 23% of single women with children under 5 are living in poverty and 21% of single women with children under the age of 18 are living in poverty.

Since the study presented in the Science Daily was not done here in Fort Collins, we cannot conclude that the poverty statistics and obesity are related. However, we can conclude that this poverty is a growing problem and that it could eventually lead to an increase in child obesity based on results by Prout-Parks.

Facts through Video

Sometimes it can be hard to research all the facts about obesity, especially because we often don't know where to start. It can be very unappealing to look at pages and pages of facts typed on a page. Facts can often be better told through a video putting a face to the problem.

Video courtesy of First 5, Public Health Department of Santa Clara Valley Health & Hospital System, and INSPIRE Obesity Prevention.

This video gives a short idea about the effects one small drink, even a juice, can have on a child's health, specifically the young girl that is featured in the video. Putting a face to a problem suddenly makes the problem more real, for whatever reason that may be and this is just one example of many that uses this as an advantage to spread the word about obesity through visual appeal.

International Changes in Health

When we think of Nestle, often the sweet products and the cereal come to mind. However, it has many more food products such as baby food, pet foods and even bottled water, according to Wikipedia. Nestle SA is based out of Vevy, Switzerland and is the largest food company in the world, measured by revenues.

The specific focus on Nestle right now is its' breakfast cereals and the sugars/salts that are in them. The News International published an article today stating that "Nestle SA and General Mills Inc will cut sugar and salt in the children's breakfast cereals they jointly market outside North America." They are doing this in response to the health concerns of consumers.

One of the aspects addressed within the article was the marketing aspect of the cereals and how that will change due to the ingredient alterations. There is a certain practice that goes on with marketing a product when the market has changed for it and it's called fat tailing. Fat tailing includes re-marketing a product for a different purpose or to a different audience. Nestle and General Mills want to be able to still sell their cereal and have those frequent buyers, but they are trying to meet these new standards while still making sure taste is not compromised.

As they address in the article as well, this is tough for these companies to accomplish well because ultimately it is the consumers who decide if the cereal is still worth purchasing not the ones who enforce the health of the product. The classic dilemma that is present here, is whether or not food can be healthy and still taste good?

Michelle Obama's Lunches

There is now a new way to control the food supply of school lunches and Michelle Obama is behind this idea. According to The Guardian, the Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 is now taking effect in school lunches.

Under this new law, high school lunches cannot have more than 850 calories. However, one of the most contrasting views of this act is that it does not take into account the fact that some students may need to have a higher calorie intake due to sports or just being a growing boy.

Going through high school, boys are growing and being very active and as they do this they need to be properly nourished for their own benefit. When I was in high school, I played an array of sports and even as a girl felt that I had to consume more food than those girls who were not involved in athletics. Now I can't even imagine what it would be like to be a growing, hormonal boy and not getting adequate amounts of food.

Portion control is a great way to assist young kids in developing healthy diets, but at the same time we cannot go overboard and control every move down to what is given in lunches and how much that is allowed to be. Our country is established on free choice, and that should still remain a priority even in something as small as choosing a school lunch. Suggestions can be made about what to be eaten but the control should not be taken overboard.

Hand washing

The simple task of washing your hands does not seem like it would be an issue that would even need to be discussed, but apparently it's no longer a 'norm' in the lives of some children.

An article by Mark Druell is what drives the discussion of this topic today. One of the facts that were highlighted was, that "40% of children admitted they don't always wash their hands with soap after using the toilet." He then goes on to discuss how many children do not practice these hygiene habits due to the influence of their parents.

Now I understand that staying away from too many germs can cause a child to get overly sick all the time; however, not be sanitary and cleanly is not something that should be avoided. There are certain diseases and sicknesses that can be transmitted from hands, as Druell also emphasized, and teaching children how to prevent that will teach them better hygiene habits.

Parents can teach their kids to be cleanly and cautious without keeping them in an immunity bubble and that balance just has to be determined. However, I don't think there should be any question about washing your hands after using the restroom. Restrooms are a gross place and I wouldn't want to carry that around on my hands all day.

Supporting Children's Development

Children have no choice what family they are born into or the success of their parents while they are growing up, but what they can do is reach out for help if this does grip their life chances.

This problem is discussed in recent blog by Mark Bertin, M.D., where he discusses how children are the future of this country...if they make it to the future. He then touches on different areas that need more focus in children's lives in order to set them up well for the future.

One specific area is a safe and stable home environment. He argues that often time adults who are at-risk need to be educated on how to successfully develop their children because they did not receive that when they were young.

This problem is persistent even here in Fort Collins, and one organization recognized that need and is doing something about it. The Matthews House is a nonprofit organization that focuses on empowering young adults and families who are in that transition period so that they can become stable and shape positive futures for themselves.

Sometimes it's not that the children have no desire to succeed in life, and do that in a healthy way, it's they are just never given that opportunity due to the life circumstances they have been dealt.

Practical Problem Solving

If you live in Colorado Springs, Colorado there is a perfect opportunity for your kids this weekend to get out and be active while having fun doing it.

This Saturday, September 29 there is a free soccer class being offered to children ages 10 months to 12 years old. The event is being held by an organization called Soccer Buddies.

It will be at 5025 North Academy Blvd from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and is open to all skill levels.

According to the owner of Soccer Buddies, Julie Colangelo, their goal for this hour of soccer is to get kids to develop fitness habits at a young age and think of it as fun without even realizing the fitness
development that is occurring.

It is definitely an event worth checking out that will encourage kids to find something active that they can enjoy and do with their friends as well. Teaching kids to be social while being active is a great way to get them engaged into a lifestyle of fitness.

Sugary drinks are still a problem

Cutting back on sugary drinks such as soda is something that even I find hard to do. Sometimes it is the only type of drink that sounds refreshing and has flavor. However, I do notice a huge difference in how I feel and even look when I begin to cut back on those types of drinks.

Another blogger, pediatrician Dr. Claire McCarthy, posted about this topic as well and pointed to three different studies regarding the effects sugar-sweetened beverages have on children. One of the ones mentioned was conducted in the Netherlands and it found that when they gave normal-weight kids one can a day of a sugar-sweetened beverage, they gained more weight than those who got a sugar-free beverage over a 18 month period.

McCarthy then emphasized that these drinks are not the contributing factor to obesity but they are definitely a heavy contributor.

I think it's time that I start listening to this advice geared toward kids, because I do not want these decisions I keep making to affect my long term health. Adults are just as susceptible to the increase of obesity and as a younger adult I need to be setting an example of a healthy lifestyle.

Next time, it should be a clear choice.

                                           This image was retrieved from http://dustinmaherfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/water_soda.gif 

Activities to stay active

I realized that up until this point I have not given a practical way to engage children in active activities to prevent these potential risks from happening, so that will be the focus of this post.

Since I live in Colorado I feel that I am slightly biased towards the great activities we have available at our fingertips, but I want to make suggestions of fun things to do regardless of where you may live. Sometimes the hardest part about remaining active, and helping children to remain active as well, is thinking of fun and unique things to do which is why I am here to help.

Here are some of my suggestions:

• Take a bike ride to the park and enjoy a picnic
• Put together a scavenger hunt in your neighborhood
• Play laser tag or mini golf at a local indoor amusement park
• Play hide-n-seek inside

I found one website that lists 25 Easy Activities to Keep Your Kids Active, which is just one of the many great resources that will help spark ideas of how to make being active and healthy something enjoyable. 

It does not matter which activity you choose to do or how long you choose to do it for, it just matters that you get up and do it. One activity can make a lifetime of difference.

Health beyond the family

Many of these blog posts so far have been focusing on what can be done within families or at schools to take preventative measures towards decreasing obesity in children. However, I have not placed any focus on what fast-food restaurants can do in this area. Luckily, someone else was already a step ahead of me--Florida Hospital. According an article by Marni Jameson in the Orlando Sentinel, the hospital is partnering with non-health enterprises, the Orlando Magic and Chick-fil-A, to encourage kids to eat better. Chick-fil-A has made a new kid's menu item, which are grilled chicken nuggets instead of the breaded and fried nuggets.

The way in which the Florida Hospital is going about this is giving restaurants a "Healthy 100 Kids Seal of Approval" meaning that they passed the American Dietary Association guidelines with their menu item. The hospital is using the positive influence that both the Orlando Magic and Chick-fil-A carry to encourage children to eat healthier.

I think this is such a great idea on the hospital's end because they are taking advantage of the weight that each one of these different entities carries and using it to promote lifestyle changes. I think too often people surpass the power and the opinion that fast-food restaurants have on the habits that people develop, and seizing this opportunity to turn it into something positive is brilliant.

Parents and their kids' health

As I sit here and begin to contemplate many of the eating habits that I have, I realize they had to have come from somewhere and I think that somewhere was from my parents. Those habits are both good and bad, but they are definitely something very specific that I remember my parents doing when I was younger. For example, my dad loves to drink soda and has many throughout the day. Growing up I have always thought that was a normal occurrence, and I think that is why soda is a big part of my diet as well. However, my dad has always been fit and active, as well as encouraged us to do the same, so there was never an association between soda and being overweight.

Unfortunately, not all children have parents who are willing to talk about health concerns with them or to teach them how to eat healthy and take care of themselves. The Advisory Board Company's website discusses this very topic of parents taking charge of their household and educating their children and families regarding healthy living. The main problem this article addresses is the fact that parents are fearful of having this talk and so therefore, they shy away from it and deny the obesity problems that their kids are having. Children's Healthcare of Atlanta launched a movement called Strong4Life in order to encourage parents to create healthy families. The best way to help parents and kids avoid this growing epidemic in our country is to get them to be proactive about it and take the necessary steps ahead of time rather than trying to reverse bad habits.

Kids and Soda

Soda, soft drink, pop. Whatever name you have for it, it all has the same common ingredient--sugar. Sugar and caffeine combined make for an enjoyable and refreshing drink that gives the impression of a thirst-quencher, but you are often getting more than you paid for. Schools are becoming passionate about making sure their kids know this negative aspect and are providing ways to avoid them.

School systems in Portland took the step of banning sodas from being sold in the vending machines. In the Letters to the Editor section of the The Portland Press Herald, one reader made the comment that the government is taking away a degree of freedom of choice when controlling what drinks students are permitted to buy at school. In a sense I would agree with this reader because America is founded on freedom, and part of that freedom is being able to live in a way that we desire to live even if it may not be the healthiest for us.

On the other hand, it would be beneficial to teach kids how to say no to those types of drinks and encourage that in a healthy way. In Austin, Texas an elementary school is hosting a 'No Soda Challenge' that students and families can choose to be a part of. While there is no soda available for purchase at the elementary school, it is a fun and encouraging, yet non-forceful, way to push kids into a healthier lifestyle. I think there still needs to be that degree of freedom on whether or not a kid is able to drink soda, but that choice should not be made by the government but by the parents of those kids.

Health beyond just food

Being considered healthy goes beyond just nutrition, it has to do with one's physical, spiritual and mental being as well. The past two posts have focused on the nutritional aspect within younger children today, but today's focus will be more on the physical aspect of health. Physical activity, I think, is so important to teach kids at a young age so that when they do move out of their parent's home they will continue to value that aspect of their life and maintain it in a healthy way. Getting children involved in a sport is a great way to do that, but now there tends to be risks associated with certain sports. The question raised in my mind because of that is this: are these risks stopping parents from allowing or even encouraging participation in athletic activities or outdoor activities?

Today I came across an article written by Fox13 in Memphis regarding Pee-Wee football and the risks that are involved with it. The story discusses how football can sometimes have a traumatic affect on a child's brain from the hits that they take while playing the sport.

I have had personal experience with this within my family when my younger brother played football. He got concussions during his Pee-Wee seasons and then another one in high school, and they were of such high concern that he had to quit playing the sport all together. However, instead of giving up on sports entirely, my parents encouraged him to play a sport that did not involve hard hitting so that he would remain active.

One thing this article does discuss is the fact that these injuries are inevitable but coaches are doing as much as possible to teach them the safest ways to continue to play this sport. Coaches can be a huge impact in the safety area, because if a kid trusts his coach with teaching him how to accurately play a sport that kids won't have to avoid the sport all together. Another huge aspect within such a dangerous sport is parents who will not push the limits of their kids but know when to pull them out of something that could potentially have a negative effect for the rest of their life.

Kids should not have to stop playing potentially harmful sports or stop being active, but just understand the limits that some team sports present.

Are we concerned about obesity in our children?

As I think about all the different fast foods that are available at my disposal, I can't help but question if generations younger than me are so readily exposed to this food as well. I know that when I was younger and still living with my parents, I had a relatively healthy diet because that was just normal around my household. I think that more recently, though, families are moving more away from this normal healthy lifestyle and moving toward convenience, and this is beginning to have a negative effect on children at a younger age.

Junk food tends to be a common snack for kids. It can be mistaken as something of nutritional value, when in reality it just brings instant satisfaction. Foods of this nature are what contribute to kids overeating beacause it leaves them wanting more in a shorter amount of time. All they are consuming is just empty calories and sugar. Now, don't get me wrong, I love sugar and sweets but I am now at an age to realize when my body is craving food of substance. However, kids at such young ages do not yet understand that and we as a society need to be contributing to sharing that information instead of just giving into their sweet indulgences.

An article written by Jacque Wilson takes a different approach to explaining why children are not as drawn to eat healthy foods. Wilson discusses how Brian Wansink, professor of marketing at Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, conducted a study on whether kids would choose between an apple or cookie when presented with the option. His study found that when a healthier food had a recognizable brand name on it, kids were more likely to choose it but that there was little difference in choice of cookies with or without the brand name.

On one hand I can see that brands in today's society play a very huge role in our consumption decisions, and on the other it is somewhat concerning that cookies are being chosen no matter their brand. It's no secret that kids like to enjoy treats whenever they can, but something has got to change so that it is no longer a default choice among other snacks. Maybe it would be a smart idea to start making healthier foods look more appealing and recognizable. Kids want to be the same as their friends and fit in, even with the foods they eat, so why not curb that desire toward the healthier options.

Breakfast: A job for families or schools?

As many of us know, breakfast is a crucial meal in our lives. It starts the metabolism in the morning and tends to start the day on a better foot. Breakfast is something some don't even think twice about consuming, it is just a normal part of the everyday routine; however, some may not be as fortunate due to family circumstances. This has become a topic of debate in schools, especially in New York City.

Michael Howard Saul wrote an article in the Wall Street Journal discussing this very topic. The debate is centered on whether or not schools should offer breakfast in the classroom, as opposed to just having it available in the cafeteria for kids if they are interested. According to this article, New York City already offers free breakfast to 1.1 million students via the cafeteria, but many are arguing that they would be more effective in reaching hungry children if the breakfast was actually in the classroom. However, the other side of the debate is concerned with worsening the problem of obesity by bringing kids food in their respective classrooms. The decision has not yet been reached, but the council will vote on it on Wednesday.

I think that this is such a difficult topic to make such a definite decision on, because either way the state honestly cannot win. It is obvious that the state of New York is concerned about children who may come from less fortunate families where their only meals may come from school, and this is already being addressed by offering food in the cafeteria. Obesity has become such a hot topic lately, especially in younger generations because, I believe, fast food is more readily available and acceptable as means of nutrition. Saul solidifies this opinion when he quotes Thomas Farley, commissioner of the city's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

"We have a problem in obesity in children," Dr. Farley testified. "I am concerned that if we have breakfast in every classroom, that that could contribute to the problem and possibly make it worse."

This resolution could be a contributing factor to the increase of laziness in children, if food is just readily available for them right from their seat. Sometimes if food is given as a gift or a free handout, people tend to eat it whether they are hungry or not and I am not sure if that is the goal that the New York school system is wanting to achieve. I understand that it takes a little more time to go to the cafeteria before school begins and that might mean losing a little extra sleep, but I am not sure if that is worth the public school's system extra effort to deliver the breakfast to each classroom.