Apr15
PETA Offers to Help Massachusetts Students Shed Pounds
Posted at 10:50 AM | Permalink
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In support of the Health Council's action, we're proposing a plan to Dr. Alan Ingram, the superintendant of Springfield Public Schools, that is sure to have every kid passing their weight screenings with flying colors and trim waistlines. We've offered to hire a top vegan chef to help the cafeteria staff create first-class, meat-free meals that kids will love, to donate a "Vegetarian Starter Kit" for every kid in the district, and to provide health and nutrition teachers with a curriculum designed to educate them about the benefits of vegetarian eating. After all, the best way that these schools can help their students achieve and maintain a healthy weight is to drop the chicken nuggets and fish sticks in lieu of some real brain food: nutritious, delicious vegetarian meals.
Posted by Liz Graffeo
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Has anyone out there ever seen a show called Wife Swap?
Two women from across the country swap families for two weeks.
The most contentious swaps happen when a healthy, vegetarian wife changes places with a wife from a meat eating family. No matter how delicious the meals the vegetarian wife prepares are, the meat eating kids kick and scream and rudely dump entire plates of food everywhere, and in some cases go elsewhere to eat, such as Grandma's house if she lives nearby. The vegetarian kids will try the meat meals, but many complain of intestinal problems due to the abrupt change to a meat eating diet, and are more the ready to go back to vegetarianism when mom returns.
My point is that kids are going to eat what they are used to, and if the schools go to an all vegetarian menu the kids may opt to bring lunch from home or not eat lunch at all, waiting until after school to eat.
Posted by: Rev. Meg Schramm | April 15, 2009 12:47 PM
I think that even is kids wanted to wait to get home to eat, they would eat less. So either way: weight loss!
Anyways, this is GREAT idea from PETA. I don't even know how they can say no to this. I mean, yea, maybe some parents might protest but maybe what their feeding their kids is the reason why their BMI is so high! So they should also take a cue from PETA. This is just too cool, I wish they did that when I was still in school!
Posted by: Karen Agreda | April 15, 2009 02:37 PM
Yes Rev. Meg I don't watch much T.V. but I do remember a crazy episode like that a few months back. As far as those students go, I say you gotta start somewhere. It's the "ten" rule... Eat the same thing 10 times and your body will adjust. I remember the first time trying tofu I never really cared for it at first but over time I can't get enough.
Posted by: Carla | April 15, 2009 02:53 PM
The state is out of line in sending home weight evaluations. There should be a choice for the parents if they wan their child to get this, forcing it is un-free.
The fact is the parents with healthy kids will be happy but the parents with obese kids most of the time won't care.
Posted by: Connor | April 15, 2009 03:56 PM
I get where you're coming from, Connor, but the state has every right to send home these weight evaluations. The state has a (Constitutionally backed) compelling interest in promoting the general welfare and health of the public. The state has every right to be concerned that obesity, due to parental neglect, will come back to burden the state when these children need state assistance for heart disease and diabetes at 30.
Further, if the reason these children are obese is because their parents don't care enough to monitor their diet, it's functionally equatable to child abuse or neglect; the state has every right to step in. These children aren't just obese, they are going to suffer terrible social, physical, and financial repercussions as a result of their parents' poor parenting.
Go PETA!
Posted by: Jenn | April 15, 2009 09:40 PM
you are right, parents these days don't give a damn really. I am a fitness buff and because of it, my kids are in great shape. Parents need to set the example, not the schools.
Posted by: jerry | April 15, 2009 10:48 PM
my name is maria and i went to school and when i went to school there was alot of things to eat besides meat like salad chips we did have milk but it was cows milk if we did buy our lunch you can't just tell go into the school and put a chef in the school because you have to think of the cost of how much the chef will cost the school you also have to think of the board and what there decision is and the kids to eat a vegetarian meal or force them to do something like that they won't do i've seen it and you have to think what kids will do they will rebel and they won't eat a vegan diet and pack there lunch
Posted by: maria ziadeh | April 15, 2009 11:58 PM
I was a "obese kid" growing up and i'm still "obese" as they say. But I feel that everyone should have a choice. So we should support a healthy life but with choices. Not everyone whats to be a vegetarian.
Posted by: Andrea | April 16, 2009 12:21 AM
While this is good intentioned, all it's going to do really is reinforce a negative body image in overweight children. They are under enough pressure without fatty report cards. Not only that, but not everyone is a vegan, wants to be a vegan, or is cut out to be a vegan. Also vegan doesn't nessicarily = skinny. Not all weight issues are cause by poor diet.
I support animal rights, and I love animals- but I'm never going to be a vegan.
Posted by: Kaitlyn | April 17, 2009 09:48 AM
Oh my gosh thats awesome! lol I'm in junior high i hope our school can do that! :)
Posted by: Kenady | April 18, 2009 04:00 PM
I think people have become too "politically correct," and are overly concerned with offending people. Obesity is a huge problem in our country. Heart disease is rising at alarming rates. If someone is obese they need to hear it and acknowledge it. Sugar coating the facts of their weight only perpetuates the cycle of bad-habits. While many may resist the vegan food, the education needs to start somewhere. It has been drilled in our heads since we were born that you need to have meat every day. Time to start educating on a new way of life!
Posted by: Shelly | April 19, 2009 01:14 PM
Jenn, I did not know that the state could send things like that home or put these things in place, Where I am (not in the states), those things are not permitted, or at least not when they are ired into the education system in anyway. I just assumed it would be the same there.
Another thing I should point out is that not all vegans are healthier, if a vegan where to eat to much and overeat like many of these obese kids, I imagine they would still be in roughly the same shape, all factors considered.
I would hope a programme like this will help, but I'm left wondering.
Posted by: Connor | April 20, 2009 11:58 AM
Massachusetts is a mandatory health insurance state. What if some children learned better eating habits, lowered their BMI, and reduced the prospect of future health related problems? What if they didn't have to utilize that insurance for health related problems? No one is talking about forced choices. Let's get real! The fast food industry has been brain washing all of us into bad choices for years. Is going to McDonalds really a choice? Beside the instant gratification what is good about it? Give the kids and PETA a chance to succeed. It's a great idea and kudos to Massachusetts for accepting this forward thinking.
Posted by: karen | April 30, 2009 06:35 PM
I also support a healthy lifestyle. My family have chosen vegetarianism and we quite enjoy it. I don't believe in forcing it though.
Posted by: HollyQ | May 1, 2009 10:46 AM