Comments about ‘Utah Legislature: Popularity a powerful tool for persuading kids to eat better in schools’

Can government officials ever realize that we aren't stupid. We know what we are getting when we go to McDonalds. I don't know about them but I knew what I was getting when I bought a candy bar or coke at school in Jr. High and High School. We are choosing to eat it Because we like it. If you need to feel good about yourselves create these standards for yourselves and leave us alone. We don't need your help to sustain ourselves and never have.

It is OK to sell an 8 oz fruit juice that has 240 calories and a boat-load of sugars in a school, verses not being able to sell a diet soda that has zero calories and zero sugars.

How is this considered healthy?

And the guy that has the healthy choices vending machines: To get "30 hits a day" from five vending machines; are you serious? That is a whopping 6 sales a day from each vending machine. How is that considered to be "Catching on"?

Kids will always eat what they want. Just because they do not provide it at the school, does not mean they will not eat it. They will just stop at the local convenience store on the way to school and stock-up.

There is still a lot of sugar in those juices you propose putting in the vending machines. Some juices even have the same amount of sugar as the sodas.

"It's more popular now to eat a Clif Bar than a Snickers bar."

Since when? Frankly, I would rather have a snickers bar and there is no way I would pay twice as much for a cliff bar.

Also what is the definition of "obese or overweight" that they are using? Because I don't think 20% of the elementary through high school age kids I see are obese or overweight from what I can tell. Maybe 10%, but not 20%.

The stupid liberal minority that is pushing this in the state legislature should just give it up. They are advocating a "nanny state" law and want to rule every part of our lives. Well, frankly I think I am smart enough to make my own choices. The government should stat out of what vending machines in schools are allowed to sell. Let the market (in this case the children) decide.

Please don't take aeay my freedom or Mt Dew!

Here's hoping Sen. Jones or her staff read these posts
In my school district we don't allow vending machines in our elementary schools so that blows Sen. Jones theory out of the water for us and it means any overweight K-6 student must be getting their junk food elsewhere.
Today I heard Jones said, many parents have contacted her regarding their concerns with the items in vending machines, really, since most vendors have contracts with the individual schools why didn't she refer them to the administrator instead of once again butting into business that is not hers? You don't want the feds in our business and Senator we don't want you in our business!

There is no need for ANY vending machine in ANY school.

A smart legislator would come out with a bill that would pay a school $10,000 a year to take the machines out completely.

EVERY school would jump at that.

Schools hate the machines. They are a necessary evil because our pathetic legislature is afraid to fund schools properly for some reason.

If they take the machines away, the kids will get the sweets somewhere else. I only wish I was still in school. I would rig my locker into a cooler and corner the Mt. Dew market in a matter of days.

What's the matter, did'nt get the responce you wanted with the previous article on this subject? Too many posters opposing your agenda? We don't want lap dog legislators telling us what to do in every aspect of our lives! Pat Jones, get a life. If you want I'm sure Dan can do a statistical survey that will prove the public does not want your legislation.

Another way the government wants to rule over your lives. Give'em another 10 years and students will be reduced down to wheat grass juice smoothies and tofu chips at the vending machines.

The students as well as teachers and staff will bring the junk to school. It is up to the parents to teach the kids to have good eating habits. What happened to letting people/students to make the choices for themselves.

I think it's a terrible idea to legislate what people eat. While I agree that childhood (and adult) obesity is a problem and folks would be much better off if they chose healthy foods, it should not be the business of government to intrude into those very personal choices. The inference is that we do not have the intelligence or character to make good choices and that government officials know better than we do what is good for us.

A much better way is to help students understand that healthy food choices will better their lives in many different ways by providing interesting nutrition classes to teach them about the power of making good food choices while gaining knowledge that will empower them to care for their own children some day. Make learning about good food a positive experience rather than taking away the freedom of choice.

Senator Jones, do not presume to force your will upon us ordinary folks even if you mean well by it. We, and our children, are intelligent individuals and are perfectly capable of handling our personal choices without government interference. We neither need nor want a nanny!

Here we have a legislature that wants to spend time worrying about vending issues in high schools. It would appear that legislative time could be spent working over more important issues that should be resolved at schools or by parents. We don't need mamma state to tell us how to raise our kids. Maybe there would be an issue if the vending companies were trying to sell condums. However, the issue of which sugar to buy is fairly minor. Perhaps education should occur at the schools rather than at the state level. Poor eating choices by teenagers should be resolved at the more local level. Sounds like another iteration of Obama Care.

Legislate a similar bill a couple of years ago...and I'm thinking...why? While I acknowlege that there is a problem with youth eating too much crap, I can't help but think that every time something is legislated, it restricts our freedoms a little further.

As a teacher in Nevada I can no longer legally pass out little candies (like a lifesaver) as rewards in my classroom. I'd have to spend 4 times as much for a snack that is on the approved list. Pathetic.

If you don't want your kids to be fat, teach them good health habits. A little junk food once in a while isn't going to hurt anyone.

Does the legislature have nothing else more important to do? Maybe the sessions should be shortened if all they are worried about is junk food machines in schools. Get a life!

How about getting teachers and schools to avoid using candy as a reward???

Plus all the moms that load up on soda at the check out..now that would be a start.

School food provided should be at a healthy standard as well as vending machines.

But, it should be the parents of the school who are more involved in this, not government telling us what to or not to eat. No daddy government please.

Another dingbat democratic idea. And we thought Nancy Pelosi was too liberal.

While the state is attempting to assert state rights, it appears that it also wants to usurp the rights of our local school districts to make decisions. Hypocrisy at best!

Give it up already! If this is best the legislature can do then send them home and cancel this years session. There are so many critical problems (illegal immigration) that must be dealt with and they are spending our tax dollars on candy bars?