Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Pizza, the New Vegetable



Child Obesity continues to get worse in America. Food is so easily accessible today that most people go for the most convenient foods. Unfortunately the most convenient foods are the foods have the least amount of nutritional value. This includes fast food, pre-packaged dinners, and microwaveable foods. School lunches have been huge topic lately. Attempts have been made to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into school cafeterias. Apparently, the standards in this country for what constitutes a fruit or vegetable is far different than what most would think. According to this article:
“Under current regulations, an eighth of a cup of tomato paste is considered the nutritional equivalent of a half-cup serving of vegetables, since that's how much tomato it takes to make it…that "loophole" is what makes it possible for a slice of pizza to count as a serving of vegetables.” Therefore pizza with tomato paste is considered healthy to serve for school lunches because it provides a serving of vegetables. Not surprisingly the people who are against changing these standards are the food companies that make the pizza that is provided in school lunches. Children can not be expected to understand how to eat properly if the people who are suppose to guiding them and setting an example for them are telling them that pizza is healthy.

  

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