[Laminar]

American Beverage Association

"Rivals" TV Ad on Vimeo

Together with schools, we're helping kids make more balanced choices everyday.

So if school lunchrooms were to remove everything from the lunch menu but celery stalks, would that assist kids in making better choices?

Either way, I'm all for it.

[The Final Dakar]

I never had the privilege of enjoying soda at lunch, the ****s. I hated milk, too.

[Shaddim]

Just let them choose between juice, milk, or water. That's all we had and it was fine for us.

[osiris]

Get them off all soda, including the aspartame sweetened drinks.

[olePigeon]

So they're replacing a 12 ounce can of soda containing 140 calories, with a 12 ounce bottle of grape juice containing 231 calories.

Yeah, that makes sense.

[olePigeon]

Originally Posted by osiris 

Get them off all soda, including the aspartame sweetened drinks.

And move them to high sodium sports drinks and caffeinated tea?

[osiris]

Originally Posted by olePigeon 

And move them to high sodium sports drinks and caffeinated tea?

Nope. Ban that too. Allow water, lowfat milk, or 8 oz orange juice.

[olePigeon]

What these governing boards are missing is that it's not necessarily what you eat and drink, it's how much is consumed and that there's variety in their diet.

It's OK for kids to eat pizza and drink soda, but they need to mix it up with other foods, and they also need to be physically active. If the kids aren't getting the right nutrition at school, then it's up the parents to make sure they get proper nutrition at home.

[olePigeon]

Originally Posted by osiris 

Nope. Ban that too. Allow water, lowfat milk, or 8 oz orange juice.

Juice has more calories and sugar than soda. Do you mean just water and milk? Seems dreary. Those used to be my only choices when I was in school. It sucked.

Besides, the kids that want sodas will get them from home. If the school bans all soda on campus, they'll just sneak them in. They tried this at the high school where I worked, and it failed miserably. All it did was create a black market for soda. It was rather amusing.

[The Final Dakar]

I've never considered water to be a meal beverage.

[osiris]

I think the point is to teach better eating/drinking habits. Do you work for Coca Cola or something olepigeon?

[osiris]

Originally Posted by The Final Dakar 

I've never considered water to be a meal beverage.

It could be a food too, if you freeze it.

[Shaddim]

Originally Posted by olePigeon 

So they're replacing a 12 ounce can of soda containing 140 calories, with a 12 ounce bottle of grape juice containing 231 calories.

Yeah, that makes sense.

Yes, it does. Soda isn't packed with vitamin C and antioxidants. Carbonated beverages are just bad for you, getting off them is one of the healthiest things you can do.

[abbaZaba]

agreed. perhaps it may be more calories, but if they are serving juice with only natural fruit sugars, then it's much healthier. and of course, the added vitamins and antioxidants.

[Person Man]

Originally Posted by olePigeon 

Juice has more calories and sugar than soda. Do you mean just water and milk? Seems dreary. Those used to be my only choices when I was in school. It sucked.

Besides, the kids that want sodas will get them from home. If the school bans all soda on campus, they'll just sneak them in. They tried this at the high school where I worked, and it failed miserably. All it did was create a black market for soda. It was rather amusing.

8 ounces of orange juice is 100 calories.

[andi*pandi]

agreed. There's a difference between nat'l sugar and HFCS or aspartame. I'd be fine with juice as long as no added flavors were part of the deal.

[olePigeon]

Originally Posted by osiris 

I think the point is to teach better eating/drinking habits.

I think one of the reasons America has five times higher rate of alcoholism than Britain or Germany is because of how we treat it. When you start telling kids and young adults that something is forbidden (like alcohol) and they shouldn't ever touch it, that is often one of the first things they will indulge themselves in when they get a chance.

Completely controlling what foods they can or can't eat without any sort of self responsibility or real education is only going to create problems; instead of kids indulging at school, they'll indulge after school.

I just believe they're approaching this in the completely wrong way. Prohibition didn't cure alcoholism, it's not going to cure obesity. It simply doesn't work.

I don't work for Coca Cola, I work for a school district.

[olePigeon]

Originally Posted by andi*pandi 

There's a difference between nat'l sugar and HFCS...

There has been no definitive study showing that sucrose is any better or worse for you than glucose and/or fructose. The problem is the amount people are consuming. Changing out glucose and fructose based products with sucrose is not going to change anything. All high fructose corn syrup allowed was a much more economic way to put sweeteners in foods.

Additionally, antioxidants and additional vitamin supplements (either separately or added to a product) have never been shown to have any benefit. Actually, quite the opposite for pregnant women, where recent studies have shown an increase in premature deliveries in women taking prenatal vitamin supplements.

I'm not advocating soda pop over natural juice drinks, I'm just saying that these people are going about it the wrong way. It isn't always what you eat and drink, but whether or not it's taken in moderation and that your diet varies.

Completely removing soda pop and pizza from school will do absolutely nothing to curb childhood obesity.

[The Final Dakar]

Originally Posted by olePigeon 

soda pop

...and I had to stop reading.

[olePigeon]

Originally Posted by Shaddim 

Carbonated beverages are just bad for you, getting off them is one of the healthiest things you can do.

They're bad for you if you drink too much, but not if you have a balanced diet. It depends on your carbohydrate intake.

[olePigeon]

Originally Posted by The Final Dakar 

...and I had to stop reading.

When I was visiting Missouri I heard people call it sody.

[The Final Dakar]

I pretty sure if you say "sody pop" three times the world ends.

[osiris]

Originally Posted by olePigeon 

I think one of the reasons America has five times higher rate of alcoholism than Britain or Germany is because of how we treat it. When you start telling kids and young adults that something is forbidden (like alcohol) and they shouldn't ever touch it, that is often one of the first things they will indulge themselves in when they get a chance.

Completely controlling what foods they can or can't eat without any sort of self responsibility or real education is only going to create problems; instead of kids indulging at school, they'll indulge after school.

I just believe they're approaching this in the completely wrong way. Prohibition didn't cure alcoholism, it's not going to cure obesity. It simply doesn't work.

I don't work for Coca Cola, I work for a school district.

I agree that kids should be educated WHY it is unhealthy so that they fully understand. If you work for a school district you should take a good look at the kids - diabetes will soon become all the rage, and perhaps kill a good percentage of them.

[JellyBeen]

Watch this and then you will understand why sweet drinks are to be avoided. The soda companies have known this for years.
YouTube - Sugar: The Bitter Truth

Robert H. Lustig, MD, UCSF Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Endocrinology, explores the damage caused by sugary foods. He argues that fructose (too much) and fiber (not enough) appear to be cornerstones of the obesity epidemic through their effects on insulin. Series: UCSF Mini Medical School for the Public [7/2009] [Health and Medicine]

[olePigeon]

Originally Posted by JellyBeen 

He argues that fructose (too much) and fiber (not enough) appear to be cornerstones of the obesity epidemic through their effects on insulin.

So it's not the drinks, but peoples' eating habits.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by olePigeon 

I think one of the reasons America has five times higher rate of alcoholism than Britain or Germany is because of how we treat it.

I'm not buying that. Alcoholism is rife in Britain - but it's simply not classified as such because the national pastime is binge drinking, so it's considered "normal", not alcoholic.

File:Alcohol consumption per capita world map.PNG - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Doofy]

How much physical activity is required during a school day over there?

They've (namely: Jamie Oliver) attempted to introduce a healthy diet in schools over here, banned soda, etc.. But the main culprit was that over the last 15-or-so years school playing fields have mostly been sold off to housing developers, and physical education lessons have been severely downgraded due to a "non-competitive" everyone-is-equal spirit.

It's OK to fill kids full of calories as long as they ain't sitting around all day.

[olePigeon]

In California, 20 minutes a day for Primary, and 40 minutes a day Secondary.

[Doofy]

Woah. That's kinda low for the primaries.

[scaught]

Generally speaking, sugar makes you fat. It doesn't matter if it comes from soda, juice or whole grain bagels.

Antioxidants make me laugh. Did they even exist 10 years ago? haha

[andi*pandi]

1/2 hour recess for elementary here, but they rarely go out in winter or even slightly harsh weather. They are also making up work during recess, which we think is redonkulous.

[mattyb]

Originally Posted by Shaddim 

Yes, it does. Soda isn't packed with vitamin C and antioxidants. Carbonated beverages are just bad for you, getting off them is one of the healthiest things you can do.

I think that Perrier with a twist of lime would be OK.

[The Final Dakar]

Perrier? Are you trying to goad me into making fun of you?

[Oisín]

Originally Posted by olePigeon 

I'm not advocating soda pop over natural juice drinks, I'm just saying that these people are going about it the wrong way. It isn't always what you eat and drink, but whether or not it's taken in moderation and that your diet varies.

Completely removing soda pop and pizza from school will do absolutely nothing to curb childhood obesity.

And do you honestly think that any significant number of children, if faced with the choice of healthy food and drinks vs. sweet, savoury junk food, will choose the healthy stuff?

Even I (as an adult trying to live healthily) have a hard time choosing the healthy stuff over junk food—add the inherent lack of long-term perspective and impatience in desire that children have, and there’s really not much room left for the stuff that’s good for you. The fact remains that junk food and soda is just stuffed with things that’ll make your mouth water and taste good. Vegetables aren’t.

You can run around and be as active as you want—if you’re living off pizzas and soda, you’re not going to be healthy. I agree it’s the parents’ job to make sure kids aren’t living off pizzas and soda; but there’s no point in just saying that, and that therefore it’s okay just to have pizzas and soda in school, ’cause the parents have to give them proper food at home. It’s a lot better, I’d say, for schools to be realistic and recognise that many parents aren’t feeding their kids properly, essentially raising them on pizza and soda, and then at least make sure that they eat and drink well in school.

Also, there have been dozens of studies that have shown that school children who eat a varied, low-sucrose diet in school have less trouble concentrating in class and maintain their energy and concentration much longer than children who eat ‘rush energy’-based foods and have high-sucrose diets in school—regardless of how the kids eat at home.

[mattyb]

Originally Posted by The Final Dakar 

Perrier? Are you trying to goad me into making fun of you?

Like you need goading.

[The Final Dakar]

I did abstain.

[ghporter]

Exposing kids to "other than mainstream" choices has interesting results. They typically resist for a while, then try what they're offered. Often finding that they like the new choice...

Not having full-calorie soft drinks in school won't "teach them to make better choices." That's what parents are supposed to be for. But it will help break habits, where kids ONLY choose the full-calorie products without ever having tried anything else.

[downinflames68]

I think schools should just allow students to make fun of fat kids... like, encourage it. That'll work itself out, as students won't want soda and crap.

[imitchellg5]

Pop = meh. Never been a fan. I can't see the merit of giving kids a crapload of sugar. Pop should be banned from school altogether.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by downinflames68 

I think schools should just allow students to make fun of fat kids... like, encourage it.

I'd be all for that if it wasn't for the odd kid here and there who got fat through some kind of medical condition.

Fat acceptance in general, though, has got to stop.

[Laminar]

Originally Posted by osiris 

I agree that kids should be educated WHY it is unhealthy so that they fully understand.

None of them will care.

[imitchellg5]

Sure they will. Tell them they'll have to get shots for diabetes. Kids hate shots.

[Phileas]

Originally Posted by olePigeon 

There has been no definitive study showing that sucrose is any better or worse for you than glucose and/or fructose.

HFCS has been proven to increase obesity over an identical intake of cane sugar.

You cannot possibly be serious in comparing fruit juice - full of good stuff - with soda - full of shit - and come to the conclusion that they are in any way comparable.

A Princeton University research team has demonstrated that all sweeteners are not equal when it comes to weight gain: Rats with access to high-fructose corn syrup gained significantly more weight than those with access to table sugar, even when their overall caloric intake was the same.

[Phileas]

Originally Posted by olePigeon 

I think one of the reasons America has five times higher rate of alcoholism than Britain or Germany is because of how we treat it.

That's a myth. Alcohol consumption per capita in Germany and the UK is about double that of the US.

[Paco500]

Originally Posted by Doofy 

I'm not buying that. Alcoholism is rife in Britain - but it's simply not classified as such because the national pastime is binge drinking, so it's considered "normal", not alcoholic.

QTF. Binge drinking here is all but compulsory. And it's not limited to frat parties either. After almost 4 years here I'm still regularly shocked by the amount of alcohol consumed on a regular basis by people from all walks of life. It's insane.

Based on my limited time spent in Germany- it's a whole different beast. Germans, by and large, drink regularly but not to excess as is the norm here. It seems once the drinking starts, it just doesn't stop until someone falls down.

[Paco500]

Originally Posted by Doofy 

They've (namely: Jamie Oliver) attempted to introduce a healthy diet in schools over here, banned soda, etc.. But the main culprit was that over the last 15-or-so years school playing fields have mostly been sold off to housing developers, and physical education lessons have been severely downgraded due to a "non-competitive" everyone-is-equal spirit.

It's OK to fill kids full of calories as long as they ain't sitting around all day.

Which is one of the main reasons my kids are in private school. They get a few hours of physical activity a day- some guided (football, rugby, cricket, swimming, horse-back riding, cross-country running) and a good bit of run around the grounds like maniacs climbing trees and hitting each other with sticks. I (I mean they) love it.

[mattyb]

Originally Posted by Paco500 

QTF. Binge drinking here is all but compulsory. And it's not limited to frat parties either. After almost 4 years here I'm still regularly shocked by the amount of alcohol consumed on a regular basis by people from all walks of life. It's insane.

The foreign students at Uni and the foreign workers in London say the same thing. Apparently its calmed down a bit due to the economic situation. I was in London during the late 90s. £500 on a night out - which sometimes started at midday on a Friday, wasn't exceptional. If you ended up in Stringfellows (or an equivalent) it would be even more. Good times until the bubble burst.

Originally Posted by Paco500 

Based on my limited time spent in Germany- it's a whole different beast. Germans, by and large, drink regularly but not to excess as is the norm here. It seems once the drinking starts, it just doesn't stop until someone falls down.

The Frogs drink alot, but spread out over several hours. They can regularly make it until 5am. They don't seem to down the pints of beer like the Brits though.

[Paco500]

Originally Posted by mattyb 

The foreign students at Uni and the foreign workers in London say the same thing. Apparently its calmed down a bit due to the economic situation. I was in London during the late 90s. £500 on a night out - which sometimes started at midday on a Friday, wasn't exceptional. If you ended up in Stringfellows (or an equivalent) it would be even more. Good times until the bubble burst.

I work in the city (don't shoot- I'm not a banker) and those times are back. Maybe not to 100%- but easily 85%.

Originally Posted by mattyb 

The Frogs drink alot, but spread out over several hours. They can regularly make it until 5am. They don't seem to down the pints of beer like the Brits though.

There is a frenzied nature to their drinking. Socializing and having a good time seems to be secondary to getting hammered.

[Oisín]

There is a frenzied nature to their drinking. Socializing and having a good time seems to be secondary to getting hammered.

Much of the same is true here, though in general, I think young people are a bit better at spreading out their drinks a bit.

Plus nobody in their right mind would spend £500 on a night of drinking—poor students can’t afford such luxuries. (It’s also completely ludicrous. Did you perhaps mean £50, Matty?)

[Paco500]

Originally Posted by Oisín 

Plus nobody in their right mind would spend £500 on a night of drinking—poor students can’t afford such luxuries. (It’s also completely ludicrous. Did you perhaps mean £50, Matty?)

I'm sure he meant £500- but we're not talking about students. They get blotto too, just not at expensive city bars and strip clubs. I guy I work with (to be fair, he's a sales guy, so he's often taking customers out), has at least one £1500+ night out a month. Every time he appalled at his bill, feels like ass the next day and swears it was the last time. Been swearing that every month for a few years now.