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.