Image Courtesy: Joe
Not too long ago, I was on the bus and I saw this mother literally shoving a tube of liquid candy down the throat of her overweight 4 year-old. It was unbelievable. As I sat and watched, I thought about how angry I was at the mother for poisoning her child with nutrition-less, sugar-loaded food. And for the child, I felt sorrow and sadness because she had no idea about what’s she was eating and no idea of the dangers associated with that kind of food.
When are the parents of this country going to wake up? When are they going to connect the dots and see the simple cause and effect relationship of the deleterious impact of the food they are feeding their children and the diseases that are following.
Why have parents forgotten about the fresh fruits and vegetables and opted for the snicker bars, ice creams, and sugar cookies to feed their children? We see it all the time; when a child cries out, we offer them a “treat” in an attempt to appease them. And what’s that “treat”? It’s a cookie or piece of candy most of the times.
The facts are overwhelming:
If anyone, even for a moment, thinks that the above observation is going overboard, please take a look at the facts garnered by various scientific studies over the years:
Childhood Obesity Running Out of Control
- 4% overweight 1982 | 16% overweight 1994
- 25% of all white children overweight 2001
- 33% African American and Hispanic children overweight 2001
- Hospital costs associated with childhood obesity rising from $35 Million (1979) to $127 Million (1999)
Childhood Metabolic and Heart Risks
- New study suggests one in four overweight children is already showing early signs of type II diabetes (impaired glucose intolerance)
- 60% already have one risk factor for heart disease
Surge in Childhood Diabetes
- Between 8% – 45% of newly diagnosed cases of childhood diabetes are type II, associated with obesity.
- Whereas 4% of Childhood diabetes was type II in 1990, that number has risen to approximately 20%
- Depending on the age group (Type II most frequent 10-19 group) and the racial/ethnic mix of group stated
- Of Children diagnosed with Type II diabetes, 85% are obese
Wellness International Network Ltd – web.winltd.com
Stop Feeding ‘Garbage’ to Kids
Photo Courtesy: Vinnie Lauria
No wonder then that our nation is going through an obesity epidemic. No wonder why over half of our population is overweight. And no wonder why cardiovascular diseases kill a million people per year in America.
Sure, genetics do have an impact, but what we put in our bodies plays an even larger role. And our parents are doing a lousy, filthy, and rotten job when it comes to providing proper nutrition and health education to our children.
Think about all the trips to McDonalds, Burger King, and Wendy’s; all the junk food that we throw into the shopping cart (rice crispies, sugar cookies, and ice pops). Think about all the Pepsi and Coke we pump into our children.
Do we HONESTLY think that this garbage is good for our children? If so, what world are you living in?
David Askaripour, a prominent blogger based in New York, writes on the subject of natural healing among other things. His work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Television Talk Shows, books and local news channels.
Gina says
David,
this concept infuriates me. Thank you for calling attention to it. I hate that folks like us who want the best for our children are in the minority when it comes to diet and nutrition. I hate that I needa doctor’s note that warns tecahers not to feed my son candy and junk.
David Askaripour says
Hey Gina,
Wow, that’s insane that you actually have to get a Doctor’s not to prevent your son’s teachers from poisoning them; I’m not at all surprised, though. Very sad, very sad… I really pray that we wakeup and see what we’re doing to our children — soon rather than later.
Phillippa Silverlock says
Calling a parent eveil for feeding their kids garbage is a bit harsh! Call on the food industry to make healthy eating easier for the single parent who holds down two jobs to pay the bills and panics over food, stop places like MacDonalds targeting the young, put facilities in family restaurants that make them more appealing to families (Creches etc). It’s not always just the parents.
Gina says
Phillippea, I hear you! its the food industry and big biz that are the real enemies. We love our children and always want what is best for them. parents who work, and love their kids and do their best are not evil — they are tired and possibly not fully informed. I mean I even see parents at the health food store picking up orgainic meals that cost them quite a bit — but even these may be loaded with sugars, salts, gluten. we have to take into consideration who is behind the studies that tell us certain things are healthy. But, real change begins at home. little by little I believe that real opportunity for true health is arising in this country. we have probiotics on the main stream, mcdonalds vowing not to use trans fats etc.
My kid has had mcdonalds once in his life, when our neighbor bought it for him (before we knew he had autism) but, food and commercial food especially is a social thing in this country. its not yet popular or wide spread enough to drink green juice (like my family does) so it is not as readily available. I hope for a day that if my boy wants to have a mcdonalds burger that he will not get sick from it (he cannot digest meat or fillers) I hope for a day that parents will be able to get the info they need regarding the health, nutrition of their children. we are mislead by doctors sometimes because they are not forced to study nutrition.
but that time is coming. there is tons of info out there. and any small step that afamily can make in the direction of better health will really help their kids. we don’t even miss fast food. and we wind up spending about the same because we buy very frugally and have a farm share.
hey, thanks for your comments
Gins
Anthony says
Great post. More effort needs to be put into teaching our kids to eat healthy at an early age. Eating healthy and organic can be fun and tasty, it just takes a little more effort by the parents. Keeping your children healthy is well worth the effort though.
Brian Denim says
you think america is bad look at austalia we have shocking food laws. Parents just don’t see that their arre other options than Mars bars and Burger rings. if you find it hard to make time wake up an hour or half hour earlier and cut up some fruit or carrots and introduce it to your child.
thankyou America
mcdonalds lover says
mcdonalds is fantastic