Thomas Ho

Professor Charlotte Howe

English 1010
March 4, 2015
Government Controlling Food
With obesity affecting America you cant control the junk food that exists in the
population to consume. Junk food, fast food, and processed food are the main food source that
the citizens of America consume on a daily basis. With having the theory of laissez-faire in food,
where the population can eat food on their own will and own choice. With Americans facing a
conflict with fat and sugar is one of the central aspects of the American lifestyle. At this rate the
government had to take a role in their conflict with the Food and Nutrition Board, trying to
change the food eating habits to raise attention to the nutritional status.
Judith Warner mentions the effect of the government, which is trying to restrict the
different varieties of food that is supplied to us. The citizens of America is being threatened to
have their choice of food suspended from them and the amount of food they consume. Most of
the Americans today are either overweight or obese, and Obama is trying to take action by
assessing this problem by educating children and adults about eating healthy and changing their
diet to be more healthy.
During the World War II the government took action on getting people their nutritional
needs and psychological approaches. Both nutritional needs and psychological approaches
showed to be affective, because it made the people believe that they were helping the public
welfare and showing that eating healthy is possible. Americans culture of food needs to be
change to have the change of Americans eating habits and diet. Judith mention that the

American lifestyle needs to be change, Eating too much, indiscriminately, anywhere, at any
time is the Americans culture of food. Before cigarettes were popular among the population of
America and now are processed in their brain as disgusting and unhealthy. This also can be
change in the American mind that fast food, junk food, and processed food can also be changed.
Im of two minds on Judith Warners claim on the government trying to control the food
consumption. I believe with government forcing and mandating eating healthy is the wrong way
to look at this problem. But on the other hand I also agree with Warners approach of the
American lifestyle needs to change, along with the eating habits and diet.
It is very difficult to change the eating habits and daily diet of the Americans. Being
raised as a student in school, and attempting to convert the students nutritional basis. Watching
kids throw away their healthy meals because it is not appetizing to them. Before you cant them
at school, the change has to happen at home and in their daily basis. In 2010, Congress passed
the Healthy Hunter-Free Kids Act, which requires less sugar and fat in school meals (Klein).
With governments trying to change the daily American diet by forcing them is the complete
wrong way to confront this, instead having them look at themselves and see what has happened
to their body and health if they continue with their normal diet. With the generation nowadays
there is so much you can tell them and they will listen, and it will be a lot harder to confront
them about what they should eat. With the amount of junk food and sweets, the temptation is off
the roof; which then comes with self-discipline.
The governments are approaching this completely wrong. Instead of teaching students
healthy eating, they are eating more meals outside the school. By changing the way the student
eats at school is not going to affect their appetites. A students meal plan after school consists of a

snack before dinner and another snack right after dinner. With including breakfast and dinner the
students are consuming two snacks and three full meals. Out of the five meals only one is
controlled by the government by having less sugar and fat in the school meals. The government
cannot control what the student eats after school, Nearly a third of American kids between the
ages of 2 and 11 and nearly half of those aged 12 to 19 eat or drink something from a fast
food restaurant each day, according to a study from 2008(Ferdman). I believe that just by one
meal the government controls is not going to affect the student.
Instead of the government controlling the citizens of Americas diet and food, everything
all lies on their shoulder. The government can do so much, but everything is with the diet and
lifestyle of the Americans. Five years ago in schools, students were not allowed to eat in the
class rooms. But nowadays student assume in class they can eat and drink what they want. By
changing the daily consumption of food, Americans health would change. Looking at the Asian
diet consists less fat and sugar in their daily diet. Eating foods that are healthier and not ready to
eat meals would improve the health among Americans.
In conclusion, the government should not be forcing healthy eating habits among the
citizens and students of America. Moreover, the lifestyle and diet among Americans should also
change healthier. The eating should not be controlled by the government but by our own lives. In
the end there is so much human being is willing to accept from others to their own hands, which
means changing into a healthier lifestyle is only by them.

Works Cited
Ferdman, Roberto A. "Fast Food Consumption Is out of Control-and It Could Be Blunting
Childrens Brains." Washington Post. The Washington Post, 23 Dec. 2014. Web. 04 Mar.
2015.
Klein, Rebecca. These Teens Hate Their School Lunches And Theyre Blaming Michelle
Obama For It. The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 21 Nov.2014. Web. 04
Mar. 2015.
Warner, Judith. Junking Junk Food. They Say I Say. 2nd ed. New York : WW Norton, 2012,
400-404. Print.