“‘Toxic Diets’ fuel child obesity”

BBC News has posted a story with some shocking details about the health of English children. I was aware of the proliferation of sugar in processed foods but wasn’t aware of the decrease in fibre. Maybe I’d have less sugar cravings if I ate less sugar, period. Hmm… anyway. “One in four children in England are obese, official statistics published earlier this year showed.” If this doesn’t tell you there’s a problem, I don’t know what does. I feel bad for overweight kids I see, and not all of them have similarly overweight parents. And, for pre-teen and teenage girls, on the one hand you’ve got stick-thin models and actresses, and on the other a source of food that is not ready to promote a healthy body. Even the agricultural industry tends to prefer lusty-looking, big fruit lacking in nutrients and taste. Potatoes are now cardboard, and you’re lucky if you find french fries made of potatoes. I have a feeling that I’m a rarity to have grown up eating McDonald’s on shopping outings and now avoid it and tend to say ‘no thanks’ to fries. When it comes to the ice cream in the fridge, though… it’s hard to resist. For those of you with my problem, try replacing some of the ice cream with a banana, or other fruit like strawberries, blueberries, or blackberries.