**ON MY SOAPBOX! My Rant on the Food Industry!**

Every once in awhile something I read or see on T.V. or hear on the radio gets my blood to come close to a full boil. When this happens, I need to get it out. Since I am not a violent man, the next best thing is to put a post together in my blog. Well, today is that day; at least for awhile until the next thing comes along. Today I read an article from Yahoo.com about what the Food Industry does NOT want us to know. It was a great article about how even the junk food companies are stating that they are starting to "steer kids away" from bad choices and more towards "healthier choices" when it comes to food. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? If anyone believes that they are trying to steer away kids from their junk food products; a population that these companies make their living off of; I have some swamp land i can sell you cheap! Childhood obesity rates are astronomically high; doctors, nurses, medical professionals, are seeing kids as young as 2-4years old with weight problems; and THESE companies are saying they are steering kids away?? Here is a quote from the article:

"Food giant PepsiCo, for example, points out on its website, that 'we can play an important role in helping kids lead healthier lives by offering healthy product choices in schools.' The company highlights what it considers its healthier products within various food categories through a 'Smart-Spot Campaign that features green symbols on packaging."


There is no arguing that we as a society need to eat healthier. There is no argument here. especially in our children, do we need to have them eating healthier foods, exercising more and getting off the proverbial "couch potato" lifestyle of watching too much television and playing WAY too many hours of video games! (Sidenote: video games are also on my "ranting radar" but will save that for another day). Healthier living is what we need to enphasize and it does NOT need to come from the hypocites that run the junk food companies! Check out this video below about what is going on.Click and Paste this in your browser:

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=3906861&cl=10249794&ch=4226723&src=news


We are a society that is literally "killing" our kids with bad eating habits and we need to stop it now. I am a parent and I try to instil in my son healthy eating habits and exercise almost on a daily basis because it was instilled in me from my mother. My sister and I grew up with a mother WAY ahead of her time when it came to healthy eating. She was always getting low to non fat foods; making sure we had fresh fruits and vegetables; low sugar intake; scraping fat off of foods that she prepared; etc. This back in the early 1970's! And exercise?? She always had us outside playing games and sports and riding bikes ALL THE TIME! Why should this be any different now?? There are so many kids as well as adults who need to lose weight. Not only for better health but, in some cases, to SAVE THEIR LIVES!

Being a healthy parent is crucial and to hear that junk food companies are trying to get away from marketing prooducts to kids; the very kids that keep these giants in business; is laughable! We need to get our kids eating healthier foods and getting our information from more credible sources rather than the very companies that sell junk food to anyone and everyone that they can.

Thanks for letting me rant and rave to get this out of my system. I feel much better and I think I can go on with the rest of my day in a calm and cool manner. At least until the next issue comes by to get me boiling again.

If you would like to read the article that has gotten me all up in arms; CLICK HERE NOW!



** WANT TO EAT HEALTHIER AND LOSE WEIGHT?** CLICK HERE TODAY!

CIO Foundation: My Opinion

"The Most Common Health Problem Facing U.S. Children Today---CHILDHOOD OBESITY---A Condition Robbing Kids Of Both Their Quality And Quantity Of Life."


"Overweight And Obesity Are Destroying Our Children's Lives!"


"ONE In THREE Kids Born In 2000 Is Expected To Develop Type 2 Diabetes, With The Risk Of Blindness, Loss Of Kidney Function, And Early Death Associated With It."


"The Stigmatization Directed At Obese Children By Their Peers, Parents, Educators and Others Is Pervasive And Often Unrelenting."



Do those statements seem familiar to you? Have you ever seen or heard these statements made? They are on the website of the "CHILDREN'S INTERNATIONAL OBESITY FOUNDATION.

This is a FANTASTIC website and organization that can truly help Parents that have kids with weight issues. This is just a sample of what they provide:

1. The Facts, Effects, Causes, Costs Associated with Childhood Obesity
2. Programs and Support
3. News and Events
4. Emergency Intervention and Advocacy
5. Kids Only Section

Their MISSION:


"The Children’s International Obesity Foundation is dedicated to predicting, preventing, treating, and ultimately eliminating childhood overweight and obesity. This increasingly costly and painful health epidemic is affecting the world’s population of babies, youngsters, adolescents and young adults. We believe our goal is within reach — but we need your support."


PLEASE! If you have any questions or concerns about your Child's weight issues; have any questions about his or her healthy eating and diet or lack there of; any questions at all please visit their website.


CLICK HERE TO VISIT THEIR SITE NOW!

Nutrition And Childhood Obesity

Being a Healthy Parent is what this blog is all about. Whether it is for yourself getting and being healthy; or for your kids. I cannot emphasize the point enough that we, as a society are "killing our kids" with what we give them for nutrition. Childhood Obesity is a problem; that's obvious. But it is a problem in society that CAN and SHOULD be preventable. Our children need to be given the proper tools to make the correct choices on what foods they put into their bodies. We, as parents, need to help them with those choices when they are young; and as they grow, give them the tools to make the choices on their own. Watch this video on "Overweight Kids in America" and then click on the link below to see what you can do. Watch it now:






Click Here To See What You Can Do To help Your Kids!