Isha
Posting #2
Topic: Health
Title: Child Nutrition Bill Clears Congress
Author: Robert Pear
Publication: New York Times
Date of Publication: December 2nd, 2010
Length: 997 words
Child obesity has been a major concern in the United States for the past few years. Michelle Obama is a strong advocate for solving this issue and she had been lobbying continuously for a bill to try and prevent both obesity and hunger. Finally, on Thursday, December 2nd, 2010, Congress approved the bill. In the House of Representatives, the bill received a majority vote of 264 (to 157). In the Senate, the bill received a unanimous vote. Now the bill just needs to be approved by President Obama, and he plans on signing it.
The bill is going to be funded by cutting $4.5 billion dollars from food stamps. Some people protested against it because they felt it was unreasonable and wrong to use money meant to support to the poor to fund the bill. However, Obama reassured them that he would first attempt to find other sources of money for the bill before he used the food stamp funds.
According to representative Rosa De Lauro, “The bill sets national nutrition standards that will finally get all of the junk food infiltrating our classrooms and our cafeterias out the door.” It will help reduce child obesity and feed 31 million children every day. Some people still oppose the bill because they feel it that is uneccesary and a waste of money because families should decide what their kids do (and don’t) eat. However, Michelle Obama has good intentions. There will be new nutrition standards that would make schools sell only healthy food, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole wheat products. Since these types of food cost more, the government is also planning on covering the extra cost and giving free meals to more than 100,000 kids.
Child obesity has been a growing problem in America, but now, hopefully, the new child nutrition bill will improve conditions. Schools will soon only have healthy meals and the government will cover the extra costs. No child will be forced to live off of junk food and no child will be left without food because of the amount of money they have. It is an expensive proposition, but even though some are against that part of it, in the long run, it will promote healthy eating habits and create a healthier generation of people.
This sounds like a good idea but I kind of agree that families should regulate what their children should and should not eat. They should help them learn better eating habits. Also wouldn't the school be losing some money because some kids might not purchase these healthier meals as a substitute for junkfood.
ReplyDeleteWhile this may make an impact on child obesity, often children who buy junk food from school are accustomed to eating such and probably do so at home. Students may just start bringing food from home instead.
ReplyDeleteThere's also expenses to look at.
This seems like a good idea since some children are forced to eat what they can afford to eat. If schools only sell healthy food, those children will now be forced to eat this instead, at least when they are at school. So, I think it is a good idea to provide healthy food at school to reduce child obesity and hunger.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Asuka because when people don't have money they can only go and buy fast food which is unhealthy. Michelle Obama definitely has a good plan in mind and I think this bill will work out fine in time.
ReplyDeleteI think that this bill is a very good idea. I also think that it is a bit overdue, because there are already a lot of obese children in America, and this bill coming earlier possibly could have cut down the number of them. Michelle Obama has very good intentions and it's good that she is being proactive to get this done.
ReplyDeletei am in total agreement with this bill. chiled obesity is a major problem in the U.S, mostly in part by cafeteria and fast foods and not enough exercise. i think that thes bill will help to educate kids to eat healthier, hopefully lowering the obesity rate.
ReplyDelete