Tuesday, October 08, 2002

They'll have to pry my lunchbox from my cold dead fingers!
The Brisbane (Australia) Courier-Mail startles with Lunchboxes targeted in war on obesity:
As Queensland children head back to school, nutritionists are urging parents to do away with the lunchbox.

They say it may encourage youngsters to graze on snack foods.

Instead, they say every student should be given a full, healthy lunch from a school cafeteria.

The goal is to end Australia's growing obesity problem.
...
"The lunchbox is a bad system, because it makes it difficult for parents to provide a healthy mix.

"It's not surprising that the easiest food gets thrown in.
Those rotten parents!
Griffith University nutritionist Roger Hughes said an examination of lunchboxes at the start and end of the day had found most healthy items such as fruit and vegetables were left untouched.
Er...well, those rotten kids! But never fear, the government can help!
Mr Somerset said he and his colleagues wanted Australia to adopt a cafeteria system, currently used in several European and Asian countries, whereby a government-funded full lunch was provided for each student.

He said that, although the system would be expensive to maintain, it would ultimately lead to higher health standards and lower health service costs.
When lunchboxes are outlawed, only outlaws will have lunchboxes.