the unknowing victims

It is one thing, as an adult, to eat unhealthfully.

I figure you are of an age where you can make a decision for yourself on what you choose to put in your body. However, I also believe, by doing so, you give big food companies carte blanche to put whatever they what in that food because.  You are making a ‘vote’ by spending money on a Big Mac or a Coke or Crispy Creme.  If you aren’t going to hold them accountable by not speaking up, that is your choice.  You are an adult human and I trust you to make a decision for yourself.

I do not, and will never, believe the same thing for a child.

A child is completely dependent on its parent to make a wise and safe choice for its well-being.  I also feel it is the responsibility of a company to make good choices when they are creating convenient food, marketed to a parent, for the betterment of their children.

Sadly, a list came out today that makes it seem as though at least some companies have no care for the health of our children.

Dietitians Name Five Worst Packaged Kids Meals via the Cancer Project

The thing that is upsetting is that Lunchables, the dominant force in convenient school kids meals, tops the list.

Lunchables Maxed Out Ham and Cheddar Cracker Combo topped the list because it has 22 grams of fat, 50 milligrams of cholesterol, and 1,600 milligrams of sodium—more salt than younger children should consume in an entire day.

The report found that most packaged lunchbox meals have little or no fiber and are high in fat, sugar, sodium, and cholesterol. Many also contain processed meats, which are linked to increased cancer risk later in life.

And while these foods may be convenient, they are foods that are hard on your child’s body.  Currenty, the United States sees a 60% obesity rate in children and “adult onset diabetes” is being seen in children as young as eight.

I know that it may be hard to find the time to make a lunch.  Or, maybe your child is a picky eater.  I don’t know what the various reason may be.  But, I do know that I find it hard to justify giving your kids a meal that may cause long term health problems.  A parents job is to create an environment where their children are well taken care of, not subjected to disease and malnuriishment for the rest of their lives.

Children are the victims of the bad decisions parents are making, around the country.  I fully believe that if we want to create a sustainable future, we have to stop this behavior of performing a genocide on our youth.  Even if we, as a species, are able to survive and adapt to changes in the weather, are we going to have individuals that are healthy enough to reproduce and provide for the next generations.

by Shelley Boyle