Proposal for America

America has a nutrition problem. We keep hearing about the obesity epidemic, and while for some excess weight is the main problem, for most it is a lack of nutrition. We have easy fast access to calories, but most of us are choosing the wrong ones. (self included!)

Our children are being left with nothing better than some white bread and grease for their diets! Poor children suffer the most, as families with little time to spare offer them chips, soda and microwave dinners instead of homecooked food!

It takes time, effort and dedication to keep healthy foods and drinks available. Studies have shown children wont even eat vegetables or fruits until after they are presented 10 or more times! Study after study shows that children flock to sugar filled alternatives instead of healthy foods. Parents are faced with a difficult and daunting task of presenting healthy options repetitively and consistently. Statistics show that for the majority of America, parents are failing at this task. Dr's and dentists see the effects every day of children with lousy nutrition.

We cannot allow this state of affairs to remain, we must take action to instill a standard of nutrition for all children.

I propose a solution, instead of allowing families to choose food for themselves, we should nationalize it. Starting as soon as possible we put children into feeding programs, that will ensure balanced standard nutrition across the country. When they become adults they can choose to continue the program in one of several public or private, feeding centers.

Since most children are not fond of all vegetables, and not all willing to try new things, and we cannot ensure each child will find the vegetable they like we shall offer the nutrition in the form of a vitamin packed 'milkshake' surely no child will turn down a sweet snack, and all will get the same nutrients each day.

A national standard of testing will be in place to ensure proper levels of nutrients are met, feeding centers that fail to perform will face penalties in the form of less federal money made available to them. Staff in charge of feeding will be charged with ensuring the children drink all of their shakes and no more.

What family wouldn't vote for this wonderful plan Who would deny a child the right of nutrition ? And who better to provide it for our countries children then the government?

I suppose if some families wanted to keep nutrition at home we could offer an alternative, so long as their child takes the same yearly test as children in the feeding programs we could at least ensure the parents were trying to feed their children, though I doubt the nation wants to trust the average family to feed their own.