Nutrition and healthy eating

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• February 18, 2013 6:57 a.m.

  What I think people are not aware of is that sugar is Big Business. It is not ONLY in the drinks (like coke etc) but in a lot of processed foods and even things we might think are quite healthy i.e. baked beans (then they put in salt too!) crazy stuff. So of course we all get a bit fatter every year while the governments think its ok to let people eat this junk - as for trans fats... come on people lets just get self aware and start eating the things we know - fresh veg, fruits for example and stop eating and drinking junk. There is nothing wrong with a glass of milk or herbal tea. Just think before you eat.

  - Kate

• January 7, 2013 5:57 a.m.

  do you people really think taxing everything your going to make people stop using a product.thats like charging a person with a million dollars ,200 dollars for speeding to him money dont matter.remember taxes made the boston tea party

  - lenny

• October 21, 2012 1:24 p.m.

  As a young person, sugar destroyed my life. In my profession I see many sugar addicted people with the challenge of trying to quit their sugar habit. Most people can't. There is nothing good about refined sugar. Sugar-sweetened beverages are poison as a well-known San Francisco endocrinologist discusses in his youtube presentation.

  - Shelly

• June 24, 2012 2:16 p.m.

  Yes, yes, yes, sugar-sweetened beverages should be taxed. They're not healthy foods.

  - Ellisen

• April 16, 2012 4:37 p.m.

  For All THE PEOPLE SAYING "GOV SHOULD NOT BE TELLING US WHAT TO EAT" They are NOT. . . they are TAXING IT. . . NOT TELLIN YOU NOT EAT IT .. .BUT WILLING TO TAX YOU FOR EATING THE FOOD THAT MAKES YOU FATTER!!!!! So if the parent wants to spend their hard earn money on TAX fat food. . so be it. . . NOW to the free loaders . .. . they should not be aloowed to by soda, candy, ice-cream, chips with FOOD STAMPS .. . .. yes, understood with the way we are now with the economy. . I know more people are getting food stamps. . they are not the free loaders I am talking about .. . . BUT, REALLY, why are we letting anyone by these JUNK foods with out tax dollars. Just so later we can cure them?????

  - MIKE

• April 16, 2012 4:29 p.m.

  TAX IT. . .AND . .TAX IT NOW ..AND TAX IT HIGH . . .TAKE A LOOK AT ALL THE PEOPLE GETTING FREE BENIFITS (FOOD STAMPS, EXCESS CARDS) AND SEE WHAT THEY ARE BUYING IN THE STORE. . . IT IS UNBELIEVABLE WHAT THEY BUY .. .AND SO HERE WE ARE. . .NOT ONLY PAYING FOR THEIR FOOD THAT IS KILLING THEM AND MAKING THEM FAT(FATTER) BUT THEN I AM PAYING FOR THEIR DOCTOR BILLS. . . . NOT TO SOUND RACIST, BUT THE FOLKS FROM SOUTH OF THE BORDER ARE A FINE EXAMPLE - - -- SAY WHAT YOU WANT ABOUT WHAT I WROTE. .BUT IT IS TRUE!!

  - MIKE

• March 20, 2012 7:21 a.m.

  The fat people don't want the Government telling us what to do but we want the government to foot the bill when they need knee or hip replacements. Let the tax help pay for medicaid.

  - No name given

• March 1, 2012 7:36 p.m.

  Absolutely not. What happened to taking personal responsibility for our own actions and that of our children. Just what we need. MORE NANNY GOVERNMENT.

  - Mae

• February 21, 2012 1:57 p.m.

  Tax Soda, candy AND bottled water ? ABSOLUTELY!!!!! Won't stop us from being unhealthy. Use the money for educating our children.

  - Peggy

• February 20, 2012 5:25 a.m.

  Do you know that there is a sugar substitute suitable for diabetics and weight watchers, NATVIA , do away with sugar all together

  - Michael

• February 2, 2012 7:01 a.m.

  Oh my gosh! There goes more of our freedom of choice. Great excuse to raise money for our government. Where will this end?

  - Bruce

• January 1, 2012 5:01 p.m.

  NO! Why in the world would anyone want another government program. I DO NOT NEED ANY- ONE FROM THE GOVERNMENT TELLING ME WHAT TO DO. There are way to many busy bodies trying to legislate their agenda. Please leave me alone. What I eat is my business not yours.

  - Kurt

• November 7, 2011 3:30 p.m.

  Tax sugar beverages.No! Why not BAN alcohol beverages instead,,,,,,,but that would mess up the lucrative tax scheme. It sounds good to talk health, but wake up folks it is all about tax money and how to get more of it.

  - David

• October 27, 2011 6:31 a.m.

  I say yes to that Amen

  - nancy

• September 21, 2011 12:54 p.m.

  I know... Let's get a "FAT tax" too!! We could tax butter, whole milk, then get a "High Cholesterol" tax where they get us for buying eggs and cooking oils! how about using your BMI as your tax rate for the year!!! people want lower taxes...then lose weight! (I was being sarcastic at first, but the "BMI tax thing I came up with sounds pretty good!!LOL) MODERATION IS THE KEY!!! I'm fat...but I don't blame anybody but myself! I think the best thing to do is to tax the "DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS" or "weight loss" pills! These things are making people believe they don't need to exercise or eat healthy in order to lose weight. Don't tax everyone for my shortcomings!

  - Mike

• August 10, 2011 8:53 a.m.

  No more taxes. A tax isn't going to change how someone eats or drinks. Cigarettes are bad for you--a fact--are there people who still smoke!!??

  - Nancy

• June 23, 2011 2:12 p.m.

  Soda Tax - bad idea. I for one find that your supposedly healthier sugar substitutes make me ill. They make me sick to my stomach and give me headaches. Let's not even get into the nasty after tastes. So, how can that possibly be a healthier choice? Quit trying to control every aspect of people's lives. What next - mandatory calisthenics every day?

  - Shar

• May 31, 2011 3:03 p.m.

  Soda Tax: Another Bad Idea. Hurts business, takes away freedom and the funds will be misused. NO more taxes or govt regulations. It would be another failed policy by the govt control minded.

  - Mark

• May 16, 2011 4:30 p.m.

  when did we stop being adults and making chose of what we eat. It is none of your business what I consume and none of mine what you consume. Haven't we chased enough business away from our country. Now who is partly to blame for our present job situation. how many more jobs go away.

  - ann

• April 24, 2011 10:33 a.m.

  Give me a break, we already tax just about everything in this country except the air that we breathe. You'd never know that we started this country because of high taxes. Sick to death of people who love big government telling you how to live you life.

  - Dan

• April 21, 2011 2:27 p.m.

  Yes - state and local governments should be applying special sales taxes on sugary, carbonated soft drinks (and perhaps the diest sodas as well) as there is not much any thing more disgusting to witness at a grocery store than some unwashed butterball loading up their shopping cart with soft drinks and donuts.

  - Roberto

• April 4, 2011 9:45 p.m.

  Government has no right to tax my food or soda choices simply because they want to discourage it's usage. It is simply a tax grab. My medical bills are paid only by me. If I was on public assistance, then maybe government could restrict my food and beverage choices. But a tax -- never.

  - Eileen

• March 24, 2011 5:24 p.m.

  no , sugar is not the problem, it gluttony that is the problem ,people should think before they put any food into their body. People need to start taking responsibility for their body. Everyone wants to blame the food, the problem is people think they have to have a soda everyday or two or three.If people would cut back and drink regular water they would be more healthy. The same with all sweets and food.t

  - MARTHA

• February 17, 2011 6:22 p.m.

  Why don't we just give all our money to the government, and let them take care of us the way they see fit. Apparently none of us has the intelligence or personal responsibility to eat properly. What guarantee do we have that they will use this tax to fund health care. Most states have failed to use tobacco settlement funds for tobacco prevention programs. With the current budget shortfalls of most states, this extra money will be used for what ever is convenient. Do not let them fool you, this is just another ploy to get more of your money to shore up other failed programs.

  - Larry

• February 1, 2011 7:23 p.m.

  Why does it even need to be discussed? It is a no-brainer.

  - Satya