Less is more in 2013

It’s January 9^th already, and if you are one of the few still sticking with your New Year’s resolution(s), stop showing off chances are it involves eating a little healthier. And judging by a recent AP-NORC poll, most people understand that unhealthy diets stem from a constant onslaught of advertisements and cheap fast food options, but are pretty uncomfortable with what role government plays/will play in promoting healthy lifestyles. 

Overall the breakdown is pretty even: a third of people say the government should be deeply involved in finding ways to curb obesity, while another third say government should play no role whatsoever. The rest lie somewhere in between.

• 8 in 10 support physical activity in school along with nutritional guidelines to help make smarter choices
• 7 in 10 think menu labeling is a good idea
• But 6 in 10 oppose taxes on unhealthy foods (soda etc.)
• Almost 75 percent do not agree with the ban on super sized sodas in restaurants. Really?

While I agree it is important to always consider government’s place, and whether or not it is infringing too much on our lives, I do not see the correlation between that and banning super sized sodas. If you really want 64 ounces of soda, just buy two 32 ounce sodas or get what is most likely a free refill. But by banning the beyond-belief over sized soda, it makes us think twice about doubling or tripling our consumption before we even take a sip, especially for children who are the most heavily targeted by the soda industry.

Nobody’s taking away your right to drink soda, just using different tactics than the soda companies to guide your decision making. While the soda industry wants you to consume more, government and those hoping to increase the health of our citizens want you to drink less and are trying to make it a fair fight with the soda industry which spends an astounding amount on advertising. It’s still up to you how much you want to consume. 

When a soda prohibition takes place, that’s when you can start carbonating in your basement and fighting the good fight. Until then, understand the difference between a guide to a healthy lifestyle and a tyrannical government. New New Year’s resolution: find something to complain about that actually hurts our society in 2013.

Read more about the junk food poll here. 

What do you think?

-Matt