Submitted by AI (not verified) on May 29, 2008 - 2:22pm.
Thanks your posting on this vital topic, Jamie. I think there is much to learn and emulate from the metaphorical (and also very practical) similarity with the health crisis in this country. With changing dietary regimens in schools across the US, we have finally recorded the first drop in child obesity in a trend that lasted a quarter century. You pinpointed the root of the problem when stating that defaulting to healthy options is part of conditioning and socializing the public to make choices that serve them best. While it sounds too much like social engineering, it is but a drop in the bucket of another form of social engineering that envelopes Americans from an early age and acculturates them into "preferring" unhealthy and affordable options. From the multi-million dollar advertising campaigns for happy meals to whoppers to playareas, kids are branded young. Not to belabor the argument of Fast Food Nation and Super Size me etc, but these alternative approaches are up against a behemoth which incidentally targets the lowest income communities to whom affordability outweighs health. One need not go far to see this. In a single day I drove north along two main arteries of Washington DC, Connecticut Ave and Georgia Ave, the prior traversing various middle upper class residential and commercial areas and the latter going through low income and working class neighborhoods. The contrast between the two as far as dietary variety are stark and disappointing. Connecticut ave is littered with health food markets, sit-down restaurants of every worldly variety, and vegetarian eateries, sunday fresh produce markets, etc. Georgia ave has fewer restaurants to begin with, and the majority of eateries are not dine in. Almost 80% of these are Chinese carryouts or fast-food joints, both serving less than nutritional and healthy fare, with all items under the $5 mark. Beyond these, for those who inhabit that socioeconomic stratus, the options are either non-existent or exorbitant. So to confirm your proposition, we must be prepared to explore ways to make healthy options both available and affordable, whether in combating malnutrition or financial illiteracy
Affordable options
Thanks your posting on this vital topic, Jamie. I think there is much to learn and emulate from the metaphorical (and also very practical) similarity with the health crisis in this country. With changing dietary regimens in schools across the US, we have finally recorded the first drop in child obesity in a trend that lasted a quarter century. You pinpointed the root of the problem when stating that defaulting to healthy options is part of conditioning and socializing the public to make choices that serve them best. While it sounds too much like social engineering, it is but a drop in the bucket of another form of social engineering that envelopes Americans from an early age and acculturates them into "preferring" unhealthy and affordable options. From the multi-million dollar advertising campaigns for happy meals to whoppers to playareas, kids are branded young. Not to belabor the argument of Fast Food Nation and Super Size me etc, but these alternative approaches are up against a behemoth which incidentally targets the lowest income communities to whom affordability outweighs health. One need not go far to see this. In a single day I drove north along two main arteries of Washington DC, Connecticut Ave and Georgia Ave, the prior traversing various middle upper class residential and commercial areas and the latter going through low income and working class neighborhoods. The contrast between the two as far as dietary variety are stark and disappointing. Connecticut ave is littered with health food markets, sit-down restaurants of every worldly variety, and vegetarian eateries, sunday fresh produce markets, etc. Georgia ave has fewer restaurants to begin with, and the majority of eateries are not dine in. Almost 80% of these are Chinese carryouts or fast-food joints, both serving less than nutritional and healthy fare, with all items under the $5 mark. Beyond these, for those who inhabit that socioeconomic stratus, the options are either non-existent or exorbitant. So to confirm your proposition, we must be prepared to explore ways to make healthy options both available and affordable, whether in combating malnutrition or financial illiteracy