Stirring the Kool-Aid... um, fruit juice

The Washington Post commented on this advertisement Tuesday. Click here for the link.

One of the campaign's organizers posited: "The direct comparison is: You have affluent children with access to healthy foods, and disadvantaged children have the same rights to the same kinds of healthy meals as affluent kids. And we are fighting for that fairness, so we felt that making that statement as directly as we could was important." Good point.

I find it interesting that, even with the rise of the whole food/organic/buy local movement and various other factors in what Americans prefer on their plates, we still cannot provide children with balanced meals at school. Kids are socially programmed to eat what others around them are eating. If a parent frequents a fast food chain, the child is likely to also partake in those types of eating habits. If schools only offer specific "choices" (e.g. NO CHOICE) then most kids are more adept to become addicted to salt, sugar, fat, and certain colors. In the long run this obviously can lead to other preferences in taste and the changes of body size/shape.

Rachael and I were discussing this over our extremely delicious dinner last night (carpaccio, caprese salad, calamari, and good bread.) I began to wonder why we as a society seemingly enjoy burgers and pizza over meals with other complex flavors such as the one in which we were partaking. The cost really isn't that much different. Why are there not more supermarkets and/or restaurants that offer a line-up of fresher options? Do we prevent our kids' conceptualization of "healthy meal choices" because we have influenced them to indulge in only the most processed and calorie-laden items such as candy, chips, and pop simply because that was what we thought we preferred as children? Granted: the selections we made at dinner were not necessarily the best in terms of calories, but in considering portion, price, and variety it can be assumed that these types of meals could be available to a larger number of people and on a much grander scale.

It angers me that Kool-Aid is widely marketed to the masses because it's cheap and full of sugar. We created it in a lab and it's readily produced in a factory. Why is it offered in school settings more so than 100% fruit juice? Because in general, school systems don't actually care to reformulate menus or strive to provide balanced meals. It's all about the bottom line: what we think kids like better and what we think is more cost effective... which simply isn't the case (it's just a dim-witted justification for a much larger problem.) We do not provide the best food options or guidance regarding nutrition and sustainability up front, therefore children don't know any better!

As an adult I've become so much more aware of where my food comes from, what it costs, and how it was prepared. I believe that this is also imperative for new generations and I am in full agreement with advertisements similar to the aforementioned campaign concerning children's nutrition because it illuminates a topic which effects everyone everyday... even if it jars us into rethinking how the President's children are addressed within the media. Simply put: we need a collective change of perspective regarding taste, enjoyment, value, availability, and affordability of food in general. Our ability to survive is hinged upon our likelihood to eat well.

Ok, on the road again soon... had a lovely time in the windy city as usual.