Just to add to my consumption of animal products, our kids also deserve humanely natural grazing animal proteins not the dirty factory farmed bacteria ridden meats they do have access to now.

Higher quality nutrient consumption leads to less consumption naturally which is a biochemical process.

If you know how the human body works, you know what to feed it. Just take a look at the endocrine system and the BIG 10 hormones that rely on fat for proper function.

Our fight against obesity will not really begin until we discontinue the consumption of high fructose corn syrup and trans fats. Saturated fat is NOT the enemy and our aversion to it has resulted in 3 decades of declining health and obesity. When will the powers that be scour the studies like those of us in the nutrition field? Why is everyone who sits on panels making our food decisions some how related to corn and soy? (soy, the anti-nutrient) Just take a look at the Illinois State Prison system and their law suit as related to soy. Is the idea here to bring soy into the schools causing gender issues, thyroid disruption, gut damage, etc? Anger, infertility, yes that's what our soy does.

I urge anyone out there to take a look at the studies on the benefits of saturated fat most particularly in that of butter, eggs, and other animal proteins, tropical oils....Those following the low fat diet hypothesis can pretty much count on damaged cells thus leading to modern diseases such as cancer, heart disease and hormonal imbalance.

Every member of congress has been supplied with a 450 page book with the low fat studies critically studied yet we still want to introduce low fat and soy to our children.

Health Reform begins with cutting off corn and soy!

Junk food poses a proven health risk to all those who make the choice to consume it.

A hefty tax on all junk foods is essential. Perhaps it will curb unwise eating habits. At the very least, it will provide much-needed income for government research into related health issues.

I think that all kids ought to be taughe about proper nutrition and that there ought be proper intervention regarding access that kids may have to sweets at school, but that being said there really isn't an obesity "epidemic" either. People with vested interests in selling diet books, memberships to weight-loss centers, exercise equipment (etc) have influenced federal officials to consider obesity a "disease. "
The real problem is that there has been a great social re-classification of what is and what isn't attractive. People are more interested in the cosmetics of a thinner body than the health benefits and this motivates their thoughts about dieting, but there is no such thing as good looks.

Finally somebody in Washington is taking the lead on healthcare (as opposed to health insurance and pharmaceutical company care).

If fighting childhood obesity means cutting out fat then the powers that be need to be educated. Fat is not the enemy, we all need fat; many vitamins cannot be absorbed if we don't eat enough fat. Sugar is not the enemy in moderation. The problem is hydrogenated fats, high fructose corn syrup and edible food like substances that are passed off as food.

As a yoga teacher I've learned the benefits of fasting. Whenever I've gone on a bad food downward spiral it has helped me to reset my eating and return to wholesome, natural foods. Fasting has also shown to result in increased health and longer lifespans. Although it is difficult when you first begin, if you start slow, and build up to longer fasts, the ultimate application of will power always prevails.

Want to lose weight: eat breakfast! Otherwise, by the time you eat lunch at noon or one, your body thinks your starving, and stores those calories, instead of burning them. Eat breakfast, and your metabolism will run like a well oiled machine.

I found that writing down every single item that went past my lips made me more conscience of what I was eating.

Everything... this includes the little piece of candy you picked up from a bowl at the receptionist's desk at your doctor's office. Which in no way implies we should give up this little joys in life, but it lets you assess and come to terms in black and white as to what you REALLY eat.

I'm not saying you need to calorie count, just give yourself an idea of your own dietary habits for a week. It's easy to say "I'm just eating this today because we're having a meeting" or "Normally I don't stop for a donut in the morning, but today I am running late". After a week, you will see how many times you allow yourself to add junk into your routine, then force yourself to come to terms with the fact that they ARE part of your diet.

It's also quite shocking when you compare that 'food diary' to the recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables you should be eating. Sadly, I've found those portions, even in a very healthy diet, to be a real challenge to consume every day.

Make small changes over time. This week, revise ONE recipe to be healthier - or - find ONE healthy substitute for a favorite unhealthy snack.

It is true that there is just too much sugar, fat and additives in a lot of the foods we are used to eating. I gave up Doritos after reading the ingredient list (that's if you can pronounce that stuff).

My substitutions include: tortilla chips in moderation (made of just corn, oil, salt) with salsa, homemade popcorn, dip fresh veggies in a bit of salad dressing (occasionally peanut butter), or have a handful of mixed nuts (reduced salt) or trail mix. Find a trail mix that has no sulfites, used often in dried fruits. You have to read the labels. I found my trail mix at BJ's Wholesale.

Yes, it is very easy to grab processed food when you're hungry & in a hurry. But a little thinking ahead (take your snacks with you when you leave your home in the AM) can make a big difference over time.

1. To drink soda of any kind is unhealthy. It can be replaced by water and fresh fruit.
2. All kind of fried, fast food is bad for your body. If you eat it daily you will obviously be very fat. Substitute it with homemade food. But don't add butter when you are cooking, that is very bad for your health, use vegetable oil only (and very little.)
3. Eat boil or baked potatoes.
4. Prepare your own salads. Don't use mayonnaise at all. You can dress your salads with lime juice (or vinegar), salt and pepper.

If everyone read and took to heart Michael Pollan's latest book Food Rules, we'd be a much healthier nation.

People can be addicted to food. The compulsion to eat can damage a life profoundly. There are 12 step support groups for people who struggle with food. This really should be pointed out because for some people this is a crisis that it is tempting to deny or hide.

The continual push towards healthy food in schools instead is a push to low fat and low sugar foods with no regard to quality or content. I have a son who is underweight, and the portion control that exists for his few overweight classmates hurts him.

I agree school lunches should be healthier, but I don't agree that all kids should have low fat and low sugar foods.

Why are we treating ALL children for obesity when only some have this problem? And, if there is a definite socioeconomic link, why not institute programs on that basis?

They are hurting the underweight and normal weight kids by cutting calories and fat willy nilly.

Peg's point #6 is the crux of it - would we treat ALL children for drug abuse?

To Celeste Hedley,

Your offhand comment: "How do you get kids to eat something like Eggplant Parmesean?" was a poor contrast to junk food since that healthy eggplant is dipped in an egg batter, breaded and FRIED! That is not a good food choice for anyone trying to lose weight or even to maintain one's weight. I'm wondering if you ever made it or even ate it? It is delicious.

Kids eat too much CHEESE. Cut out the "cheese"- and fatty foods and salad dressing---first.
ie: How many calories are in a 1inch square of cheese?

Obese as a child but now an extremely active 30 year old, I learned to take care of myself by experimenting with whole grains and a seasonal diet based upon the availability of local produce.

In the 90s, we didn't know as much as we know about corn syrup, advertising that blatantly hooks children on processed foods and the deep emotional connections that we develop with food that often begin at a very young age.

As a teenager, we were fixated on "low fat" so satisfied myself with Twizzlers and Junior Mints - two "fat free" high sugar - what Michael Pollen would called, "edible food-like substances." Models like that of Alice Waters' Edible Schoolyard - where food becomes a integral piece of the curriculum - is a great way to re-educate America and incorporate healthy practices into schools.

I'd like to bring to your attention the writing and work of Marion Nestle. She is the godmother of this crucial movement.

Here are some wonderful quotes from her book, "What to Eat"

http://www.foodpolitics.com/tag/quotes-from-what-to-eat/

"The latest trend in kid’s cereals is to emphasize how many vitamins and minerals they have, but many of these are so high in sugar that they are really vitamin-enriched, low-fat cookies."

1. Make watching Food Inc mandatory for all school children. (and Mr and Mrs Prez)

2. Make healthy food preparation one of the required courses that all children have to take every semester. (By the time they are ten each child should be able to make healthy meals for their whole family - let's have no child left behind about making a good dinner.

3. Have all teachers read 'The China Study' and then make it required reading for high school freshmen.

4. Have vegetable eating contests along with the regular sports programs. Reward the winners with money. Yes!!! ten bucks for eating that raw cauliflower!!!!

5. Take on Agribusiness and the Food processing industries for poisoning our children (and adults).

6. Treat obesity like drug abuse.

7. Don't allow any child or adult to sit for more than 1/2 hour at a time.

8. Set up 1/2 hr disciplined and increasingly intricate marching as an every day school activity.

9. Have bowls of fresh fruit in all classrooms and encourage children to eat as many as they want.

10. Institute Gardening programs at all schools - so much more important than foot ball.

11. Muppets songs about vegetables are stupid. All children over 5 will reject that message.

re: losing weight

i'd have to say that drinking too much beer has caused me to gain weight. my solution? i've switched to gin.