I have been reading about the contracts that Coke and Pepsi have with the public schools to only put their sodas in the vending machines...more shameless marketing of unhealthy products to our kids. They are trying to not only boost their sales but get brand loyalty at a young age!! It makes me sick! As if we don't have enough issues in this country with childhood obesity, diabetes, etc. There was even cases of schools who were trying to add milk into the machines and were tld they would be in violation of contrract.
To top it off- the AAPD (ped dentists) just took a grant form COKE!!!!! They are under a lot of fire for this as the ADD is one of the biggest naysayers of carbonated sweet drinks!!
We are banning all name brand sodas fro mour house- I would ban all together but cannot get my dh to go that far!!

OK- so thanks for letting me vent!!!

By Palmbchprincess on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 - 09:29 pm:

I can't imagine giving up my Coke, but I think vending machines in schools is horrible. We didn't have then in NJ, but the HS I went to in FL did, I was so dumbfounded that I could walk out of class and get a Coke and some Skittles... that doesn't seem like eating habits you should be teaching teens.

By Palmbchprincess on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 - 09:32 pm:

I just Googled the Coke grant, it was back in March 2003. AAPD Coke Grant

By Feona on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 - 06:42 am:

You know it isn't right. My friend used to eat m&ms for lunch (vending machine)

Kids are so fat... even the little ones.... not right.

By Karen~moderator on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 - 07:53 am:

I have to agree, vending machines in schools, full of junk food, certainly isn't doing anything to encourage healthy eating habits, especially when some parents don't give a hoot at home either......

However, like Crystal, though I don't drink soda often, I can't imagine giving up my Coke - or Sprite......

By Missmudd on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 - 10:27 am:

If you are going to call the soda companies evil, you might as well include the school districts too. They allowed the vending machines in, they are the ones that are in alot of instances calling ketchup a vegetable. I suppose that the reasoning is that if you dont provide all this junk that they wont eat at lunch. Oh boo hoo hoo, maybe if they instituted the old, if you dont like it dont eat it and go hungry rule, we would at least have a fighting chance at home.

I almost tore my hair out when I found out that the school had salt shakers on every table at school because some kids come from families that salt everything to inedibility. Lo and behold my then 10 yo start to salt everything at home. I put a stop on it immediately and told him that our family has a high risk of heart disease and high blood pressure and it was playing chicken w/ your health to get into the habit of salting everything.

And when they have hot lunch I make sure that I write a check, not give them cash, because I am sure the temptation is there to just stick it in the pop machine and not get anything nutritional at all. Ok pet peeve alert....

By Tonya on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 - 10:52 am:

We had a school store in my high school where you could buy anything you wanted. Pop, chips, candy all the junk you could thing of. Now they also sold juice, breakfast bars, and water too so everyone had a choice.

I know that stuff is bad but no days the hot lunchs they sell are no better so if people want their kids to eat healthy the only thing they can do is pack a lunch with a thermos otherwise there is nothing to do but go with it.

By My2cuties on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 - 11:15 am:

Lots of times in school I would buy a bag of chex mix and a sprite/water for lunch. Now I couldn't really live without my soft drink, when I feel a little sick to my stomach it is the only thing that makes me feel better. Once again I think the nutrition starts in the home and we need to teach our children what is good and bad for them, and then it is their choice. I have already started talking to my oldest dd about how too much candy or soft drink is bad for your teeth and body. I have a hard time when she goes over to her granny's house she loves to give them candy...ugh. But Katelyn is slowly learning.

By Cat on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 - 11:23 am:

I agree with you, Candis. We do need to teach our kids to make good choices. I still don't think they should have vending machines with "junk food" or sodas in them at school. That's just too tempting for some kids. My kid's schools have soda machines, but they're locked during the day. The teacher's lounges have their own vending machines. My high school had soda machines in the school commons (and that was the only place in the school it was allowed), but not the lunch rooms. Shoot, my kids take mini-sodas (8oz cans) in their lunches. I know they're getting plenty of healthy things at home, so an 8oz can of soda at school for mine, anyway, isn't going to hurt them. I don't plan on giving up my soda habit any time soon. I'm not against vending machines in schools if they have healthy choices in them.

By Hlgmom on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 - 11:54 am:

I agree the healthy habits start at home...however I don't think the option is hust oh well what can we do about it! I think we have to get involved outside of the home as well-the massive amount of marketing that is pushed at kids is a multi billion dollar industry. As moms, I think we are responsible for trying to change things!

By Hlgmom on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 - 11:56 am:

If any of you read Mothering, there was an article on it in the most recent issue!

By Yjja123 on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 - 12:20 pm:

I find it just as annoying as the schools teaming up with fast food chains and having "family night" where they send home coupons and a letter encouraging you to take the family out for fast food. I pick up my friends kids from school and at least once a month a mascot is in front handing the parents coupons and the letters. The kids have stickers planted on their chests with the same message. Arghhh!
The schools here just disgust me!

By Mommmie on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 - 01:12 pm:

Everyone must see the move Supersize Me. It addresses this issue.

I'm glad my son's private school doesn't allow sodas in the school (can't bring them from home and can't buy any at school). They don't need to make money-making contracts with big companies that are not in the best interests of the kids.

Our large public high school brings in Taco Bell every week and other fast food for lunch and has the soda machines.

By Amy~moderator on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 - 01:51 pm:

Mommmie, I want to see that movie - I think I'll add it to my queue list. I think schools, pediatric offices, etc should only offer nutritional drinks and snacks. But, that's just me. Like anyone will listen....

By Breann on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 - 02:18 pm:

By the time kids are in highschool they should already have somewhat of an eating habit established. They are old enough to decide what they are going to eat/drink for lunch. If it's not in the schools, they'll just run down to the store and get a soda and a bag of chips. Most schools offer nutritional snacks and drinks during lunch time. Not to mention that school lunch is served each day.
Just because the machines are there, doesn't mean that's the only option. The kids aren't the "victims" because there is a machine in their school.
I saw Supersize Me, and we haven't been back to McDonalds since, lol.

By Palmbchprincess on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 - 02:21 pm:

I agree, everyone should see Supersize Me... quite disturbing, even people who though "McDonald's makes you fat, no duh!" were surprised by the events in the movie.

By Reds9298 on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 - 03:41 pm:

As a teacher in the public school system AND as a mom I agree with all of the above about the candy and soda in our schools! From an educational point of view it's not 'brain food' by any means and our country is SADLY lagging in academics as it is. Have you ever seen the breakfasts served in schools? Ours serves SUGAR and fat most of the time...poptarts, pancakes and syrup, or pb&j. It's just one of the outrages of the educational system in this country. So sad......

By Jennln on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 - 10:07 pm:

Wow...I can't believe what some schools have available to the kids. Here in NJ, my son's school has tons of vending machines (he's 9 and his school houses 3-5 grade).....*but* the only drink vending machines are for that Aquafina (I think that's the correct name) bottled water and the "snack" vending machines are those refrigerated ones with things like cheese, sandwiches, fruit cups etc...the cafeteria ladies restock every day when they are getting breakfast/lunches ready.