Typical MoCo big govt overreach/over regulation - bill to control restaurant menus for kids

[Anonymous]

I don’t agree with government interference in private businesses, but I do think that food stamps should only be valid for healthy lifestyle foods. That’s government money to start with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Try to be a little less obvious when you are lobbying against public health measures for obesogenic industries, thanks.

+1. Don't worry. You can still stuff little Braxton and Braxleigh with chicken nuggets and mac and cheese at home to your little heart's content.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's because the county cares so much about children. That's why they kept them home from school for 15 months and continue to quarantine young children from daycare needlessly.

Yawwwwwnnn.

[Anonymous]

I do not like Jawando but I like this idea. It’s to offer one healthy menu option. One of my favorite restaurants in Rehoboth is Fins because their kids menu is awesome. My kid can get grilled chicken, small portion of fries, and broccoli. Yes it’s still fries, but the chicken isn’t fried and there is a vegetable included. This shouldn’t be hard and it shouldn’t cost a lot. More restaurants here could offer grilled chicken and a few baby carrots or other easy veg without going broke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, why are you getting your panties in a twist for restaurants having to provide "ONE health option". And I am no fan of Jawando.

Why restaurants if kids get most if their meals at home? Why not require all parents to provide a healthy meal option for every meal and enforce it by random households checks. It would be great for public health!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reminds me of when the right wing lost their marbles over Michelle Obama's healthy school lunch initiative.

"HOW DARE YOU HAVE MY KID EAT HEALTHY FOOD!
HOW DARE YOU HAVE MY KID EAT SOMETHING OTHER THAN THE SHITTY, UNHEALTHY JUNK FOOD THEY'VE BEEN MARKETED AND CONDITIONED TO EAT!"

Sheesh. No intelligent signs of life.

Did you actually see what districts were serving? The kids threw the food in the trash, and the number of meals served went way down. Yes, the "right wing" objected to money thrown in the trash.

Instead of Michelle's weird menus, let's look at French school lunches. Yum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t agree with government interference in private businesses, but I do think that food stamps should only be valid for healthy lifestyle foods. That’s government money to start with.

+1

[Anonymous]

What restaurants don’t offer healthy options?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is really stupid:

https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/government/health-officials-civic-groups-support-healthy-meal-menu-mandate-for-kids/

Why is this so typical for MoCo? The solution is always more govt and more regulation. It's never a choice for the parents to or to not take kids out to eat. Let restaurants make their own menus please. Parents themselves can decide whether or not to go to the restaurant with their kids. Why do MoCo residents loooooove so much intervention from the county govt all of the time? Just leave people alone for once. People are capable of thinking for themselves. What's next after jamming mandates for menu offerings down peoples' throats?

I agree that this legislation is an overreach and not necessary (I have kids and never have issues finding healthy-is food for them when we go out). But I am really sick of the bolded expression that now seems to be applied to any legislation that people don't like. What an overreaction. If you don't like it then lobby against it; if it passes then it is because the majority of the council supports it, not because it is being jammed down anyone's throat.

Here's the thing. If you're bringing your kid to Taco Bell....you're not worried about them picking something healthy off the menu.

For the parents that want their kids to eat a healthy meal, you...choose a restaurant that offers healthy meals on the menu. They may be able to force the restaurant to offer the meal, but they can't force patrons to order it. So what type of change will this actually effect?

This is the perfect example of 'Let the market decide.'

If there is a market for healthy kids meals, then restaurants will offer healthy kids meals

Yes this. And are chicken nuggets served with carrots over fries really “healthy”?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is really stupid:

https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/government/health-officials-civic-groups-support-healthy-meal-menu-mandate-for-kids/

Why is this so typical for MoCo? The solution is always more govt and more regulation. It's never a choice for the parents to or to not take kids out to eat. Let restaurants make their own menus please. Parents themselves can decide whether or not to go to the restaurant with their kids. Why do MoCo residents loooooove so much intervention from the county govt all of the time? Just leave people alone for once. People are capable of thinking for themselves. What's next after jamming mandates for menu offerings down peoples' throats?

I agree that this legislation is an overreach and not necessary (I have kids and never have issues finding healthy-is food for them when we go out). But I am really sick of the bolded expression that now seems to be applied to any legislation that people don't like. What an overreaction. If you don't like it then lobby against it; if it passes then it is because the majority of the council supports it, not because it is being jammed down anyone's throat.

Here's the thing. If you're bringing your kid to Taco Bell....you're not worried about them picking something healthy off the menu.

For the parents that want their kids to eat a healthy meal, you...choose a restaurant that offers healthy meals on the menu. They may be able to force the restaurant to offer the meal, but they can't force patrons to order it. So what type of change will this actually effect?

This is the perfect example of 'Let the market decide.'

If there is a market for healthy kids meals, then restaurants will offer healthy kids meals

Yes this. And are chicken nuggets served with carrots over fries really “healthy”?

no, but grilled chicken with carrots is way healthier than nuggets and fries.

[Anonymous]

It’s going to be the most difficult for small ethnic establishments to comply. Think of how hard it will be for a struggling neighborhood pupuseria or a banh-mi shop to have to determine the total calories and calories from fat of every item on the menu. And for what purpose?

All fast food chains already have all of this data and even if they didn’t the compliance burden would be minimal. For these small businesses, it would be a substantial burden.

This is at its core an anti-competitive regulation.

Not just anti-competitive but will also have a clear disparate impact on minority owned small businesses. It’s basically systemic racism via regulation. It’s interesting which values this council prioritizes over others and when.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t agree with government interference in private businesses, but I do think that food stamps should only be valid for healthy lifestyle foods. That’s government money to start with.

+1

Then you actually need to lobby to subsidize healthy food and not just corn and soybeans. Until then, you are making people pick expensive options instead of cheap ones.

[Anonymous]

In general restaurants kids meals include, chicken nuggets, hamburger/cheeseburger, hot dog, grilled cheese, Mac m cheese, and sometimes a cheese quesadilla….. all served with fries. No fruit and no veg. Off the top of my head the only place I can think of that offers a fruit or veg is Olive Garden. It’s not hard to offer one healthier option and offer fruit or veg instead of fries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's because the county cares so much about children. That's why they kept them home from school for 15 months and continue to quarantine young children from daycare needlessly.

Yawwwwwnnn.

Translation: “I know you’re correct, but I’ll never admit it, so I’ll reply in the smarmiest, most dismissive way my little brain can conceive of, and hopefully think of something more clever later. Maybe I’ll call you a Russian troll next time”.

[Anonymous]

All this will do is create a cottage industry if consultants to help restaurants ensure their meals meet this regulation and cost the county money to enforce it while likely having no impact on children’s nutrition.