Fight for Your Food Rights

We have free will. No one says you have to eat the bigger portion. Besides that, parents should be feeding their children at home, as well as eating there themselves. - 12/19/2012 8:18:09 PM

I have a lot of problems with blaming the food industry for obesity. The choice lies with the individual. I do agree that school lunch is often a choice of "bad" or "worse". That is unacceptable. - 10/26/2012 7:54:14 PM

I too disagree with this article....it is my fault that I am obese...not any government agency, not any fast food business, not anyone else but me. I made my choices...albeit poor choices, as I am now making a choice to do something about it. We need to stop blaming our choices and behaviors on someone else! Sadly, it looks like the last generation that really believed in personal accountability was the generation before mine. Lets try to set an example instead of placing blame... - 6/9/2012 9:36:01 PM

I disagree with much of this article. For the most part, personal decisions is to blame for obesity, not the availability of the variety of food we are blessed to have in this nation. - 6/9/2012 9:52:48 AM

I do not believe in finger pointing. You are responsible for what you and your children put in your bodies. - 6/3/2012 10:48:33 AM

Ultimately the person responsible for what I eat is me - I read labels, research food, check out restaurant web sites to look before I "Leap". Blaming someone else is always an easy way out and one we as a society do to much of. Until we take responsibility for our own actions nothing will change in ourselves and our bodies - regardless of what others do! - 3/15/2012 7:56:56 AM

I don't think I agree. Ultimately the only one responsible for what I shovel into my mouth is me!!! I am not going to place the blame anywhere except with me!!! - 6/22/2011 9:19:14 AM

The human species is really bad at moderation. We don't want a healthy balanced diet with a treat now and then, we want treats all the time with the occassional carrot to make us feel better about ourselves. Or, we completely the other way and ban all sugar, fat, and (insert dietary evil of the day here) from our lives. We just cannot seem to exist with any kind of balance. True health is all about personal responsibility, accountability, and moderation. I am still working on the last one myself...lol - 6/4/2011 6:56:24 PM

lessee... sugar mixed into french fries, fat and additives making a simple hamburger over 800 calories, pancake batter mixed into eggs to make an omelet.... I don't cook like that even if I were under massive quantities of drugs, but these chains seem to feel that taste will win over calories.. and our addiction to sugar and fat will keep us ordering more. they conveniently hide the nutritional content layouts so that it is out of sight, out of mind. hey, if it tastes so good, maybe you'll forget how many calories you are taking in needlessly.
it's a case of I mind the calories and nutrition and you keep me enticed with enhanced flavors, fat and sugar to distract me. - 6/4/2011 4:23:28 AM

My wife works in a school and when she sees a kid try to throw out their lunch she makes them take it home to their Mom. Which I think is great because it keeps the parent in the loop and keeps the kid from wasting food. Its funny how we will eat garbage but turn our noses up at things that are good for us. - 4/30/2011 9:32:21 PM

There is a shared responsibility in the obesity epidemic, and there are many culprits, but i have to agree with the statement about School Lunches. Unfortunately, not every child is able to chose to brown bag it from home. There are a lot of children on reduced/free lunch program and they need the meals to be nutritious. Now there is always a "healthy option", but when you ask a 4th grader what they want to eat, do you think they will chose chicken nuggets or a salad. The really sad part is this may be the only meal they eat all day.

Also, marketing is not something most people can just shut off. Corporations pay big money to large firms to figure out how to best reach consumers on a subconscious level. And in today's media, it's not just turning off the TV, it's closing your magazine, turn off the computer, smartphone, bilboards, movie theaters, etc. To believe a consumer is unreachable by simply turning off theTV is quite naive.

- 2/23/2011 3:43:37 PM

I do not agree that the food industry is to blame for this. Restaurants operate to make money. If people didn't buy what they serve, they wouldn't make money. The reason the food industry has super size is because people want it. Subway wouldn't be on the "feast" train if it didn't sell. This is a personal responsibility area and one I do not like or want government intervention in. I'd like to see statistics on the "healthy" alternatives that are available at restaurants; how many people are actually buying them. I would be surprised if they comprised a very large percentage of the total sales. If anyone has these statistics, I'd be very interested in seeing them. - 2/23/2011 2:55:50 PM

I agree. Though this is an epidemic it comes from people not making the right choices for themselves or their children. It's about personal responsibility. We are trying to place the blame on anyone or anything other than ourselves. Personal Responsibility!! - 2/23/2011 7:52:54 AM

We are very blessed in the country to be able to make the choices that work for us. I can turn off the TV, I can refuse to support any fast food chain, I can refuse to support the soft drink industry, I can refuse to buy most brand name processed food, I can buy organic and local foods whenever possible, I live 5 minutes from a major grocery chain that offers very good choices at a reasonable price,etc...but what about those who are at a disadvantage because of income, neighborhood, or having to rely on choices of a parent? Plus, I feel Wall Street is definitely at work in the food and beverage industry when it comes to the bottom line!! Portion sizes are way out of proportion now.

The voice of the collective is what makes change happen - speak up, no matter the venue. Start at thelocal level...Let your opinion be known to local government official (example - they approve new food establishment site plans), school district officials (volunteer to be on the board or make statements at budget hearings!), local grocery store owners (thank them for carrying more fresh fruits and vegetables), farmers markets (shop there if available or start your own!), local restaurant franchise owners...Spread the SPARK!! - 2/12/2011 10:36:54 AM

Not too long ago I recommended on another Spark board that people let restaurants know when they found good, healthy portions at reasonable prices. I sent an e-mail to a national chain of restaurants where I ate and found a menu that offered me many choices. The PR rep wrote me back that she was totally amazed to get a compliment! She said most of her e-mails contained complaints and criticisms. I made a vow then that I would write all corporate restaurant boards when I had a good experience or, as is more often the case because I live in a rural area with few chains, I ask for the manager or owner and tell them how pleased I am with their menu. If another 5-10 million Sparkers would do the same, the restaurant industry would get the message! - 12/19/2010 8:15:34 PM