Hmm...I just want to say that I know this may be a controversial topic due to all of the backlash the proposed New York soda regulation has stirred up, HOWEVER, it is an interesting enough to me that I would like to post on it. Please know that this is my personal opinion, and I know it is only ONE. So feel free to weigh in on the issue!!
*For those of you who may not know yet, New York is attempting to place a regulation on how much soda can be sold to each person (16 oz.) at one time.*
My vote is...CREATIVE! But maybe not spot-on yet in terms of sound regulations...
My reasoning:
1. Soda and health -
I don't have a ton to say about this because it's common knowledge that soda is full of empty calories. It is also common knowledge that consumption should be limited by the individual who drinks it. Enough said. Having a soda every once in a while won't kill you, however, it doesn't do anything to facilitate health either...
2. Serving size increase -
THIS is my main reason!! Serving sizes have increased by leaps and bounds in the past 30 or so years. It is HARD to find places that serve an appropriate amount of food in the recommended serving sizes. Think about the restaurants that you eat at - they serve you heaping portions on a gigantic plate and what did mama teach you...CLEAN YOUR PLATE. So we do. People generally eat what is in front of them. And we take in MUCH more than we should and feel like it is normal. And also that we want to put on some elastic pants.
Unfortunately, I believe this is one of our worst lifestyle habits that permeates our country. It has become mainstream culture and so it is what people do. It confuses common knowledge on what a serving size actually looks like for different types of foods and leads to people ordering a super-sized meal on the fly because they are hungry (and they don't realize that the 'small' portion they can order is still larger than recommended for a healthy meal).
How does this relate to the proposed food regulation? In every way! I LOVE the idea of businesses having to regulate their portion sizes. I think that the step of adding caloric value to menus has been a step forward, however, when there is a 'healthy portion' of a meal that has 500 calories, the restaurant would probably not react favorably to you ordering half the serving size. Some people can pack up the other half and take it home for the next day, however, many people do not have that willpower. Serving size regulation could take some of the willpower out of the decision while conveying proper portion sizes and possibly reducing our obesity crisis while modifying lifestyle choices. They key word here though is CHOICES. While I think that food PORTIONS should be regulated, I do not AGREE with food SALES being regulated. If someone wants to order a second meal because they are still hungry, so be it. But they should know that what they are being served is the recommended serving size.
There are very few people who want to be told what to do, eat, drink, etc. and rightly so. Everyone feels that they are adults and have learned that right way to do things, or the way that they would like to do them. I personally don't like being told what to do in terms of my lifestyle choices. I try to learn everything I can and do the best I can, but not just because someone tells me to do it. However, IDEA behind this regulation didn't strike a rebellious note in me. Our lives have already been influenced TREMENDOUSLY by governmental regulations and allowances. We don't complain about traffic light and seat belt laws that keep up safe, airline regulations that don't allow internet or phone use in the air, or regulations recommendation that people wear bicycle helmets. While we may not always like these rules, we know they are the right thing to do and we follow the rules most of the time. The proposed soda regulation is similar in my mind. Why would we rebel against one more thing that is supposed to help us lead healthier, safer lives and can facilitate our quest to have better health and lead longer, more productive lives by cutting down on the rates of chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease that decrease our quality of life? I understand a lot of people may see this as an extreme way to look at it, but I don't think the soda regulation is extreme enough. I think that, as I mentioned above, food and beverage companies should sell correct portion sizes. IF not for us, for the next generations, who will then automatically form better habits than we did. Of course, this trickles down into our homes, because the willpower or sense of responsibility comes in when we cook our own meals and serve our families dinner. We then have to know and exercise the knowledge about healthy portion sizes...
3. MODERATION IS KEY
I think the overall message that resonates with me is that MODERATION IS KEY. Personally, I did quit drinking soda and now I can't stand the taste of it. Everyone once in a while, I think that I might be craving a Dr. Pepper. I buy one, take one sip and think, "I definitely don't miss this." But if I did still like it, I would know that it is ok to have one every now and then and that there is nothing wrong with that. However, I would also know that having three of them would be a poor choice. This goes along with everything we do -- our country has become one of extremes -- eat healthy (however we see a lot of eating disorders and obesity), exercise moderately (however, we see sedentary people and exercise addicts), drink a glass of red wine now and again (however, we see really high rates of binge drinking), etc. etc. Collectively, as a nation, we have a problem with over or under-doing it. SO, in conclusion, while I do not think that SALES should be regulated, I do think that PORTIONS should be regulated to assist our nation in hopefully increasing common knowledge of healthy eating and developing a culture of healthier lifestyle choices...
THOUGHTS??!!
*Also, just want to put in a plug for Weight of the Nation by HBO! If you haven't seen in, consider watching it for FREE online. It's highly informative and explains in great detail why obesity is a crisis, while staying sensitive to the psychosocial side of the epidemic.
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