| Adding nutrients to junk food.
Posted: 5/23/2009 2:36:42 PM | According to a recent report, Health Canada is considering adding vitamins and minerals to junk foods such as cookies, chips and fruit-flavored drinks.
Does this alarm you, or are you for it?
I myself think it would have some good elements but might stop some parents from feeding their children even a little bit of nutritious foods, ie fruit and vegetables.
And with so many additives to our foods now, we need to go back to eating straight from the ground. :) | |
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| Adding nutrients to junk food.
Posted: 5/23/2009 3:14:12 PM | I saw that on the news a little while ago. I look at it as just marketing.
Now, if parents believe that by having vitamins in junk food is a good substitute for more natural food then I guess that tells a lot about the intelligence of those parents. They're probably the type that feed their kids junk food because they are too lazy to feed them healthy food. Now they will feel they are justified in doing so because it contains vitamins.
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| Adding nutrients to junk food.
Posted: 5/23/2009 5:08:15 PM | According to a recent report, Health Canada is considering adding vitamins and minerals to junk foods such as cookies, chips and fruit-flavored drinks.
Does this alarm you, or are you for it?...
Does not alarm me.
What does make me mad though is my tax dollars help pay to keep people alive that are either not smart enough to lazy to take care of themselves.
I say keep the junk food and tax the crap out of it.
Cardiovascular disease or heart disease is the number one killer in Canada. It is also the most costly disease in Canada, putting the greatest burden on our national health care system.
A number of factors, individually or in combination, can lead to heart disease:
* Smoking;
* Diets rich in saturated fat;
* Physical inactivity;
* Stress;
* A family history of heart disease; and
* Being overweight.*
If you want to reduce health care cost you need to start educating kids from day one and increase physical education in schools.
Then start penalizing people that do not take care of themselves and start rewarding the ones that do take care of themselves.
Take the money that they make from taxing junk food and start subsidizing things like gym memberships and any healthy food choices.
*http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dc-ma/heart-coeur/index-eng.php | |
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| Adding nutrients to junk food.
Posted: 5/23/2009 6:11:14 PM |
Then start penalizing people that do not take care of themselves and start rewarding the ones that do take care of themselves.
Take the money that they make from taxing junk food and start subsidizing things like gym memberships and any healthy food choices.
How about start rewarding the people that do not take care of themselves when they make the effort to do so? Subsidize their membership.  | |
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| Adding nutrients to junk food.
Posted: 5/23/2009 9:18:25 PM |
...How about start rewarding the people that do not take care of themselves when they make the effort to do so?...
If you are trying then you will be rewarded.
I believe you do not get to eat the carrot until you catch it.
So if they are making an effort and succeeding they are rewarded with a better life.
You deserve a reward for your success not your failures.
The main difference I would change to the health care systems would be stop paying for any drug that someone is taking that can be eliminated with proper nutrition and exercise.
If you are someone that due to a medical condition (>1% of population) than exceptions can be made. | |
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| Adding nutrients to junk food.
Posted: 5/24/2009 7:22:44 AM | I think something else that has to be looked at is the price of the nutritious foods versa the junk foods. I know a 2 litre of pop costs 79 cents and a 2 litre milk costs over 3 dollars.
If you are Parent on a limited income with a bunch of kids, you might just lean towards that pop.
I know when we were kids, the odd piece of junk food wouldn't hurt us, as even then it didn't contain the crap that it has in it now. And the good food we were eating still had good things in it. But now everything you put in your mouth has the potential to contain a chemical or 30. | |
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| Adding nutrients to junk food.
Posted: 5/24/2009 7:42:31 AM | Good point, Darlena... it DOES cost more to eat healthy, but even just getting kids off the pop would be a huge benefit.
I don't have children, but it kills me to see kids with their noses in their Gameboys (or whatever's the top computer game these days), instead of playing outdoors and burning calories. I'm sure most kids DO get out to play, but it's not like it used to be. We didn't have all the 'distractions' kids have nowadays... and it's likely hard to deny a child the privilege of electronic games when all his or her peers have them. I just hope they grow up with childhood memories of playing outdoors with friends (not avatars)... rather than of who got the high score at some computer game.  | |
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| Adding nutrients to junk food.
Posted: 5/24/2009 2:28:12 PM | Not only does it cost more (on average) to eat healthy, it usually takes longer preparation and cooking time to eat healthy (not to mention most families nowdays don't have set meal times). I agree wholeheartedly that eating healthy will reward itself in the long term, however with the pace and lifestyle of most people nowadays, more and more opt for speed and convenience. It seems you can't go more than two or three streets without a Timmies, Macdonalds or some other fast food joint, which are all successful because of our lifestyles. How many families sit down and eat breakfast or even supper together? Preparing a big meal for the whole family is pretty much a thing of the past or a holiday event (therefore people tend to snack more and eat when convenient). Unfortunately, because of longer prep times and higher costs, healthy fast food joints can not compete.
Adding nutrients to junk food, in my opinion, is better than not adding nutrients, but misleading people to believe that makes the product good for them is just plain WRONG. Chips stating 50% less fat etc. etc does not make it a healthy choice..just less unhealthy. These so called, healthy, energy drinks boast about the ginseng, amino acids and other positive additives but fail to mention that they usually contain double the sugar and caffeine of any other drink out there. I think the way in which companies market their products should be closely monitored and controlled. Making gym memberships tax deductible is a good start.
Bottom line is...the junk food industry is successful because the market is there for them. If parents and people bucked the trend and supported healthier choices then these junk food markets would not succeed the way they do. Sure it costs more on average to eat healthy, but not so much as one would think. We can blame the government and the food industry all we like, but for the most part it is our choice what we put in our mouth. ( I say for the most part because financially stressed families often don't have that choice) | |
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| Adding nutrients to junk food.
Posted: 5/24/2009 2:43:07 PM |
...Not only does it cost more (on average) to eat healthy, it usually takes longer preparation and cooking time to eat healthy (not to mention most families nowdays don't have set meal times). I agree wholeheartedly that eating healthy will reward itself in the long term, however with the pace and lifestyle of most people nowadays, more and more opt for speed and convenience...
Although it may take a big longer to prepare a full meal than it does to toss something in the microwave, it is not that much longer that it can not be accomplished.
It is all about planning ahead of time.
I buy all my meat in bulk, prepare a marinate and then place individual portions in vaccum bags. This takes me 1.5hrs to prep. 1 month worth of meat.
Then the night before I take a bag out of freezer, then next evening it is ready to cook, then it is just a matter of cooking vegetables / sides, this takes no longer than 30mins.
As to it being cheaper to not eating healthy, that is a myth, the price it is actually cheaper to buy healthy food and make it yourself than to buy a ready made meal or eat out.
It does take more effort but once again your effort will be rewarded. | |
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rottie
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Joined: 5/24/2005
Msg: 11 | |
| Adding nutrients to junk food.
Posted: 5/24/2009 3:19:41 PM | I agree totally James, even though I betting a lot of single parents with two or three kids and a fixed income would disagree. (buying bulk is by far the cheaper way to go)
I had to change my eating habits considerably about 2 years ago after being diagnosed type 2 diabetic. I honestly, have no one to blame but myself for my food choices, pepsi I believe being the number one contributor.
The method of food preparation you describe is one that the bodybuilding community has endorsed for the last 30 years. That and 6-7 smaller meals a day. There are a lot of websites that offer healthier choice recipes, that are both quick to prepare and affordable, for example eatingwell.com, nutrition.com, etc.
It's also good to see that the school systems are finally doing something about it also, healthier choice vending machines, healthier menus etc. | |
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| Adding nutrients to junk food.
Posted: 5/25/2009 5:30:33 AM |
As to it being cheaper to not eating healthy, that is a myth, the price it is actually cheaper to buy healthy food and make it yourself than to buy a ready made meal or eat out.
It does take more effort but once again your effort will be rewarded.
It also doesn't help that many people have lost any skills required to be functional in a kitchen. Or they use the "I'm to busy excuse", when really it just that they are toolazy to bother. | |
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| Adding nutrients to junk food.
Posted: 5/25/2009 8:00:36 AM | Don't forget that most families these days have both parents working.
Where in the good old days, Mom usually stayed home and made sure the meals were cooked from scratch.
And not to mention the single parent homes that have to work long hours and take the children to many different activities, therefore not having the proper time to cook good food.
So the excuse that they are lazy, does not apply here. | |
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| Adding nutrients to junk food.
Posted: 5/25/2009 8:37:31 AM | If they work long , or weird hours, than a little planning solves their problem. Make meals ahead of time, from scratch and free them. Sheeples can't do that, they would rather just open a bag/packet and nuke it.
A simple meal of meat/protien and veggies doesn't take forever to do. | |
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| Adding nutrients to junk food.
Posted: 5/25/2009 8:58:19 AM | It's funny how the people that don't have kids to look after are quick to say all it takes is some planning.
I think Darlena's last comments are more realistic.
Most parents spend their planning time around the activities of their kids. I'm not saying it can't be done, as my ex was pretty good at planning good meals while we were both working, but it's more exhausting with all the kids activities having to be committed too.
It's much easier when you live by yourself as you only have to plan for yourself. | |
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| Adding nutrients to junk food.
Posted: 5/25/2009 9:23:27 AM | Well then maybe enrolling kids in every concievable activity is part of the problem.
Kids don't seem to have much downtime these days, they get dragged from one activity to another.
And where does it say on my profile I don't have kids. Whether I do or not really isn't anyones business. | |
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| Adding nutrients to junk food.
Posted: 5/25/2009 10:00:07 AM | I just made a comment based on what I saw on profiles. Your profile doesn't say you have kids.
they get dragged from one activity to another.
You're making it sound like the kids are participating in activities that they don't want to be participating in. It's usually the kids that want to sign up for things. Thus they end up dragging their parents to them because they can't drive themselves. | |
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| Adding nutrients to junk food.
Posted: 5/25/2009 10:18:46 AM | The whole issue of multiple after school activities for children is about to take care of itself. With few sponsorship dollars available from corporations and fewer donations available from individuals for fundraisers, there will be fewer organized activities within reach of the average income family. We will all learn just how many of the 'must have's were really just mass response to commercial manipulation. This is not restricted to just activities for children.
Isn't it nice to know though, that soon we will see the kind of change back to where people socialize to provide interaction time for themselves and the children instead of being stressed out to provide for commercial interests?
Time to put on fresh Nova Scotia produce and sundry cuts of meat together for a neighbourhood cookout. Forget the nutritional additives. | |
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| Adding nutrients to junk food.
Posted: 5/25/2009 10:45:52 AM | I agree that the gov should tax the hell out of junk food. Do you think that there are less smokers after the gov started to tax the hell out of cigarettes???
Healthy food is more expensive than junk/fast food. I generally eat healthy and when I go to a fast food place, the meal that I order is way more expensive than the crap stuff. Even at the grocery store, it costs more the buy healthy food than junk.
But I also worry about the additives that they put in meat and other food or the pesticides that they spray on crops or the injections they put into food to make them bigger and supposively better. My opinion is that this is the reason why there is much more sickness in the world.
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| Adding nutrients to junk food.
Posted: 5/25/2009 11:05:28 AM |
I just made a comment based on what I saw on profiles. Your profile doesn't say you have kids.
It say "prefer not to say", which means whether or not I do , it's not relevant to being on here to only participate in the forums.
OT:
Food additives and pesticides are probably contributing factors to increased sickness.
They also say over use of disinfectents is to blame as well. People/kids just don't get exposed to enough stuff to build up effective immune systems. That's why peanuts are suddenly weapons of mass destruction. | |
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| Adding nutrients to junk food.
Posted: 5/25/2009 11:33:09 AM |
It say "prefer not to say", which means whether or not I do , it's not relevant to being on here to only participate in the forums.
Why thank you for telling me what it says. I think I already knew that.
They also say over use of disinfectents is to blame as well. People/kids just don't get exposed to enough stuff to build up effective immune systems. That's why peanuts are suddenly weapons of mass destruction.
I agree with that. I never had any type of allergies before, nor do I now, but since I started working in a scent free environment the last 13 years I do find the perfumed scents from the older ladies on the elevator a little overwhelming now.
If parents would stop coddling their kids so much their immune system would build up a defense. | |
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| Adding nutrients to junk food.
Posted: 5/25/2009 12:41:34 PM | I agree with the scent policies! Scents never bothered me, but now, it is awful.
They actually make me sick to my stomach. I know it is due to the not being exposed to them anymore. Is that a good thing? Hmmmmm
Oh and do people who wear them, have to bathe in them??
Oh and no one said you have to have kids to participate in this forum, but sometimes when you have direct experience with something, it kinda makes you somewhat more knowledgeable.IMO | |
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| Adding nutrients to junk food.
Posted: 5/25/2009 12:50:36 PM | most of the time it is costly to eat healthier, one would think buying local produce would be cheaper, not always the case...
was very surprised at the grocery store this morning when organic baby carrots and spinach were cheaper than the reg ones...first time I bought organic foods, but when it comes down to the almighty dollar, I will check prices of both from here on
I agree with whoever said "tax the hell out of junk food"...I get disgusted when I see kids stuffing their faces with "empty foods" dyes, chemicals etc...imo, its the reason for so many with A.D.D. and A.D.H.D over the past 20 yrs or so...if parents read up on what these chemicals do to a child's brain, they would realize they can control these behavioral disorders with the food choices they make when filling their cupboards and fridges by staying away from processed foods, dyes etc ...they are putting bad chemicals into an already chemically-unbalanced brain | |
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| Adding nutrients to junk food.
Posted: 5/25/2009 12:51:33 PM | When I was growing up, scents didn't bother me, but now, I am very sensitive to scents. They make me sick and I get a migraine. And a lot of people don't respect the NO SCENTS policies. It isn't just perfume that makes me sick, food scents make me feel ill too. Gotta love living in an apartment and smelling what everybody is cooking for supper. lol
 I don't have kids and I feel I can contribute to this thread. Who said you had to have kids?? | |
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| Adding nutrients to junk food.
Posted: 5/25/2009 1:02:11 PM |
Oh and no one said you have to have kids to participate in this forum, but sometimes when you have direct experience with something, it kinda makes you somewhat more knowledgeable.IMO
Perhaps so. However, equally valid is the point that sometimes an opinion from someone a little removed may shed light from a different perspective. (O/T) An interesting book on the subject is 'The dance of Anger'. It talks about falling into a routine when dealing with the same situation on a regular basis, not being able to see alternatives.
(Back on Topic) As a species, we (at least in the western world) have come to believe we can medicate, legislate or crush with military might, all that threatens us. Those are all man-made implements and do little to help us along our evolutionary destiny. As a matter of fact, they weaken us, hurdling us along at breakneck speed to our ultimate demise.
Now that I have cheered everyone up, I think I will go play in my yard and eat some dirt to fortify my defenses. | |
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