| Many people's feelings about food were instilled as | | | | restaurants began growing like suburban weeds, after |
| children. | | | | years of parents rolling through drive- thrus, and |
| We learn good and bad food habits from our parents | | | | when the next generation reached driving age, the |
| and friends as we grow up, and these habits shape | | | | lines still got longer. |
| the rest of our lives. Although some children might | | | | Eating can evolve into a very personal battle of |
| have a genetic predisposition to obesity, evidence | | | | control. Many American parents attempt to control |
| shows many children as young as preschoolers have | | | | their children with food. Food was often a |
| a self-regulating caloric consumption. | | | | motivational tool of reward or punishment. |
| Environment, parental influence, food choices, and | | | | Schools instituted lunch as a social event, often with |
| learned behavior might well contribute to the | | | | rewards for eating quickly. Many schools allowed |
| seemingly degeneration of the body's natural system. | | | | children to exit the cafeteria to go to the playground |
| Early education has touched health, food, and eating | | | | as soon as they finished eating. As many children |
| from a purely scientific, void any emotional | | | | reached their teens food became their choice for the |
| connection with food. The government has created | | | | first time. Fast food actually became a form of |
| charts for food groups and made recommendations. | | | | rebellion. The fast food industry marketed toward |
| Although this is a positive step, many children are not | | | | children and teens with characters such as Ronald |
| offered healthy food choices or are allowed to make | | | | McDonald, the Hamburger, and 'Happy Meals.' The |
| their own decisions. A diet of processed and | | | | fast food industry and Hollywood formed alliance to |
| unhealthy food would probably disrupt the body's | | | | lure children with the latest movie action figures and |
| ability to regulate digestion and energy expenditure. | | | | toys. Fast food then infiltrated schools with |
| Kids who skip meals or overeat after long periods of | | | | sponsorships and meals. In addition, soda is now |
| going hungry create a vicious cycle of gradual and | | | | offered in many lunchrooms across the country. Soda |
| progressive weight gain. | | | | was considered an unhealthy drink just twenty-five |
| The development of a myriad of emotional | | | | years ago. Soda fountains were a rare treat and self |
| responses associated with food and eating can be | | | | serve fountains almost unseen. |
| derived from as many environmental influences. Food | | | | Today, the situation is different and children are |
| can become a desired stimulation after experiencing | | | | bombarded with unhealthy foods. It's time for us to |
| the effects of a sugar rush. Children will adopt their | | | | teach our children healthy food habits before its too |
| parents eating habits and emotions regarding food. | | | | late, since childhood obesity is rising in America, and is |
| Just two generations ago, fast food was not as | | | | higher than ever before. |
| readily available or an accepted meal. Fast food | | | | |