Something is missing on Natomas Unified School District’s campuses that makes it harder to satisfy a sweet tooth: soda and candy vending machines. A 2005 California Health Interview Survey showed that 62 percent of teens consume 39 pounds of sugar each year from soft drinks alone. The research showed that counties with the highest obesity rates had the highest rates of soda consumption. One Natomas Unified School District parent, Heather Reed, said she “agrees 100% with the district’s ban on... KeriH Keri Heldt comment-26018 2010-04-30T20:57:22Z 2010-04-30T20:57:22Z Wow, you're really mean! Do you just troll around sites so you can make nasty comments? And why did you have to leave 3 of the same asshole comment? WOW get a life! Keri Heldt 2010-04-30T20:57:22Z twizzler comment-20556 2010-01-14T06:55:54Z 2010-01-14T06:55:54Z I just can't believe you think this article is written well...obviously you have never taken a journalism course....sad, very sad..... twizzler 2010-01-14T06:55:54Z twizzler comment-20555 2010-01-14T06:53:21Z 2010-01-14T06:53:21Z I don't think it was well written at all....sorry...poorly written... twizzler 2010-01-14T06:53:21Z twizzler comment-20554 2010-01-14T06:51:12Z 2010-01-14T06:51:12Z I think this article was poorly written. You need more in depth information on this before you can write something like this. Did you take a journalism course before writing this? I think not....Do some more research on a subject before taking it on....this again was poorly written..... twizzler 2010-01-14T06:51:12Z SgtMikey comment-16939 2009-11-01T20:24:50Z 2009-11-01T20:24:50Z Hot Article! Special note to those who choose to "ween" themselves from full-sugar to diet soda: In 1973, G.D. Searle, founder of aspartame, failed to secure FDA approval of this toxic slop EIGHT times. In 1977, the U.S. attorney assigned to begin grand jury proceedings against Searle was offered employment by the very law firm representing Searle. His resignation as U.S. attorney caused such a delay in the case that the statute of limitations ran out. The case was subsequently dropped. He then accepted the position at Searle... Thanks for helping to keep the floodgates open on this subject Keri! SgtMikey 2009-11-01T20:24:50Z squirtsauntie comment-16855 2009-10-31T00:27:41Z 2009-10-31T00:27:41Z Great job Keri! Along with better nutrition in schools, they need to get back to the exercise kids need too. Get them out on the field and on the courts. Strong body... strong mind. You go girl! A BIG thumbs up!! squirtsauntie 2009-10-31T00:27:41Z Keri Heldt comment-16836 2009-10-30T19:46:38Z 2009-10-30T19:46:38Z I completely agree, parents and schools are pivotal influences in child nutrition and they have to work together for real progress to be achieved. Moderation is the best lesson kids can learn. I also think the school board shouldn't be too heavy-handed in applying their principles and parents should absolutely have the ultimate say in what their kids drink or don't drink. Keri Heldt 2009-10-30T19:46:38Z pato comment-16825 2009-10-30T18:04:55Z 2009-10-30T18:04:55Z This is a great article - a good jump-off point to open up a conversation about kid's health. I am concerned though that the School Board may go overboard in regulating nutrition in schools. Parents are the ultimate decision makers and models of what happens to their own kids. Parents and schools should work together but not feel like it is a "must" or else you are a "bad" parent. Moderation is always the key to good health. My kids don't have soda on a consistent basis - maybe once in a great while. Water, milk, juice (watered down mostly) are their basic drinks. pato 2009-10-30T18:04:55Z Keri Heldt comment-16818 2009-10-30T17:24:53Z 2009-10-30T17:24:53Z Thanks to everyone for commenting. I'm so glad to see that where the schools leave off on academic nutrition, parents pick up at home with their kids. The childhood obesity epidemic in California is finally getting awareness so I can only hope that more proactive measures will be adopted in the future. Keri Heldt 2009-10-30T17:24:53Z angliaby comment-16786 2009-10-30T04:12:25Z 2009-10-30T04:12:25Z As a mother of four children in primary school (2 eight-year olds & 2 five-year olds), I worry about what they eat - both in and out of school. Fortunately they haven't fallen in love with sodas (though their father lets them drink them on rare occasions). There are no vending machines at their school and the school serves only water, milk and 100% juices. I often wonder how long they will retain their innocence as to SUGAR!! Great article. angliaby 2009-10-30T04:12:25Z KAE comment-16771 2009-10-30T01:35:09Z 2009-10-30T01:35:09Z Nice job, Keri! I especially liked that you included views from both organizers and current high school students. KAE 2009-10-30T01:35:09Z BobAgnew comment-16732 2009-10-29T22:17:30Z 2009-10-29T22:17:30Z Great Article Keri...it takes a bright young mind like yours to expose such a serious issue in our schools. Obesity is a killer. Junk foods must be replaced healthy foods and the schools must education our children on how to eat right. Great work BobAgnew 2009-10-29T22:17:30Z BobAgnew comment-16730 2009-10-29T22:15:20Z 2009-10-29T22:15:20Z Great job...this is a very important issue that is easily passed off by too many. Eating healthy at the elementary and high school levels is so crucial to the kind of young men and women we hope to bring into society as bright and health contributors to their future. obesity is a major issue and impacts on individuals self esteem, drive and initiative. Schools must challenge lawmakers to support health eating programs with health food vending machines...it takes young bright minds such as Keri Heldt to keep the pressure on! BobAgnew 2009-10-29T22:15:20Z LKendig comment-16725 2009-10-29T21:29:37Z 2009-10-29T21:29:37Z Fabulous article Keri!! This issue needs to be brought to everyone's attention. Many of our children (especially in the U.S.) are obese which ultimately leads to so many health issues!! A very well written article!! LKendig 2009-10-29T21:29:37Z CCS comment-16722 2009-10-29T21:17:35Z 2009-10-29T21:17:35Z It is a constant struggle to encourage kids to make good food choices. I am happy to hear the schools are taking away the temptation on campus by removing soda vending machines. I hope that the "good nutrition" I'm trying to model and teach my son will influence him when he has to make the choice for himself...such as when he's at school. I appreciate that the school district is viewing this as a community choice to support healthy habits. However...I get a little concerned when they start making rules about what I can send to school with my child for lunch, snack, or class parties...heaven forbid children have birthday cupcakes! There should be a limit to their control. Oh sorry...the answer is yes, I let my son have soda...but in moderation, he knows no refills when we're out to dinner, and they're never in our fridge at home. CCS 2009-10-29T21:17:35Z Dori comment-16717 2009-10-29T20:51:27Z 2009-10-29T20:51:27Z My kids drink milk and juice at home, but when we go out , they always want soda and I let them have it. I read somewhere that soda interferes with bone growth so I don't want them to have it very often. Dori 2009-10-29T20:51:27Z JenCole comment-16714 2009-10-29T20:32:12Z 2009-10-29T20:32:12Z Excellent Article Keri. We definitely need a heather America and this is a very good way to start. Thumbs up!!!!! JenCole 2009-10-29T20:32:12Z Keri Heldt comment-16712 2009-10-29T20:15:32Z 2009-10-29T20:15:32Z Thanks to everyone who commented!! I'm curious, if you're a parent, do you let your kids have soda? Keri Heldt 2009-10-29T20:15:32Z JPerri comment-16708 2009-10-29T19:43:39Z 2009-10-29T19:43:39Z Great article - obesity in young adults is a huge problem and the information provided makes us aware that something is being done. Two Thumbs up!!! JPerri 2009-10-29T19:43:39Z Dori comment-16701 2009-10-29T19:12:06Z 2009-10-29T19:12:06Z Very informative and well written. Thumbs up! Dori 2009-10-29T19:12:06Z sylarnold comment-16695 2009-10-29T18:31:46Z 2009-10-29T18:31:46Z Excellent article on a very important topic. Thumbs up! sylarnold 2009-10-29T18:31:46Z kaheldt comment-16692 2009-10-29T18:18:42Z 2009-10-29T18:18:42Z Excellent article. Nutrition is an important issue for all. Defintely rates a thumbs up! kaheldt 2009-10-29T18:18:42Z Stephanie Rodriguez comment-16690 2009-10-29T18:09:22Z 2009-10-29T18:09:22Z wow this article is not only well written, it talks about something important in the lives of local children. great job keri!! Stephanie Rodriguez 2009-10-29T18:09:22Z