Potato Ban?

millionsofpeaches
millionsofpeaches Posts: 372
edited October 3 in Food and Nutrition
So, I just saw a news story about the USDA trying to ban potatoes in schools. Saying they are too high in calories and are a cause of childhood obesity. I think this is a bit ridiculous. Of course french fries are a culprit... But banning a baked potato, baked tater tots, or mashed potatoes? I think that is silly. Potatoes are a good starch and kids can benefit from the sustained energy that comes from a potatoes. Perhaps banning anything fried, pizza, pop, and candy... should be the focus rather than a staple of the American diet.

Any thoughts?

Here is a HP article with some more details for your reading pleasure... http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/26/potatoes-could-be-banned-_n_980950.html
«1

Replies

  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    First off, I don't believe that anybody, of any age or weight, ever benefits from eating tater tots. I also don't think it would hurt children to not eat potatoes, but it seems a silly policy. Why not implement something meaningful like nutritional standards (each meal must contain X, Y and Z and may not contain more than A grams of B). They should let Jamie Oliver set the policy.
  • millionsofpeaches
    millionsofpeaches Posts: 372
    But tater tots are awesome...
  • maleva720
    maleva720 Posts: 165 Member
    What the schools really need to do is incorporate more free play....they keep taking away recess or making it so structured the kids dont get to have fun and play...banning potatoes isnt going to fix anything...it'll probably make kids eat more when they get home.
  • killerqueen17
    killerqueen17 Posts: 536 Member
    Why not implement something meaningful like nutritional standards (each meal must contain X, Y and Z and may not contain more than A grams of B).

    Because it's too complicated... much easier to just say "ROARRR, NO POTATOES!!!"

    Plus, there's other factors involved-- including contracts between districts and food providers, and very low budgets. Not that I'm making excuses for them, but I would certainly hate to be the one in charge of school nutrition, considering all the obstacles and red tape beauracracy bullcrap that would have to be dealt with...
  • dls06
    dls06 Posts: 6,774 Member
    We have to start somewhere.
  • maleva720
    maleva720 Posts: 165 Member
    and now I want tots :happy:
  • amyschaefer
    amyschaefer Posts: 80
    I do think a potato ban is ridiculous considering what they serve in schools. My 1st grader takes his lunch most days but buys occasionally. One day I went to eat with him and he had pizza, chocolate pudding, chocolate milk and ice cream. I had a good talk with him about his food choices when he buys but why in the world would they let him get that???
    Oh, and I agree. Tater tots are awesome. :)
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    You know, schools are serving the same foods now that they were when I was in school. The obesity problem with kids is NOT about potatoes in schools. There were very few overweight kids when I went to school.

    What's different now? Well, many schools are getting rid of recess and gym class and when kids go home, their parents are scared to death to let them just go outside and PLAY, so they sit in front of the computer or TV (watching it or playing video games).

    Banning potatoes is ridiculous.
  • kykykenna
    kykykenna Posts: 656 Member
    Banning potatoes across the board, IMO is rediculous. It is the method in which it is cooked that makes the difference. Some of these poor kids it is the only "decent" meal they get. If some kid has to eat tater tots or NOTHING, it is a no brainer.
  • morganhccstudent724
    morganhccstudent724 Posts: 1,261 Member
    I ate tater tots for dinner last night :bigsmile:
  • lor007
    lor007 Posts: 884 Member
    First off, I don't believe that anybody, of any age or weight, ever benefits from eating tater tots.

    Tater tots are delicious. I consider that a benefit.
  • bluebird321
    bluebird321 Posts: 733 Member
    I "ban" potatos from my diet, but i'm a bit older. Banning potatos from school seems a bit extreme -- I don't remember starchy potatos being an issue while I was growing up; however, I also didn't have access to all that soda and other processed, sugary sources that kids have today.
  • tomomatic
    tomomatic Posts: 1,794 Member
    Potatoes can be cooked in a healthy way and provide nourishment to kids.

    Doesn't it make more sense to ban deep fryers?
  • VeganGal84
    VeganGal84 Posts: 938 Member
    Potatoes are very healthy when prepared properly. And not high in calories at all. This is stupid.
  • Scoobies87
    Scoobies87 Posts: 379
    This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Chips, yes I can understand. I really don't know what a potato tot is so I can't speak for those but jacket potato's are healthy!! I eat potatos/pasta daily and I have never been obese AND I lose weight.

    Kids need more fuel, they will just get hungry and snack otherwise. I agree, let Jamie Oliver sort them out.
  • asyouseefit
    asyouseefit Posts: 1,265 Member
    They'd better ban soda and candy. Potatoes (baked or boiled) can be nutritious and healthy!
  • nehtaeh
    nehtaeh Posts: 2,849 Member
    Banning potatoes across the board, IMO is rediculous. It is the method in which it is cooked that makes the difference. Some of these poor kids it is the only "decent" meal they get. If some kid has to eat tater tots or NOTHING, it is a no brainer.

    Banning tater tots would not have them eating nothing. They would have something else instead.

    However, I don't think they should be banned. Like pp said - the same things are served now as when I was in school. It is more about the activity. I did have teachers that did care about what I ate too. One teacher would not allow us to leave the salad bar without something green. Funny I still remember that 20 years later. Still, it was a good idea.
  • ilookthetype
    ilookthetype Posts: 3,021 Member
    how often do they actually serve baked potato in schools today? I went to a Mennonite school where everything was made the day of, home style, by fantastic Mennonite women, and we only ever had baked potatoes like once every two weeks (and mashed potatoes at least 1x a week)...It seems more likely that they don't serve baked potato so the "banned" potato is really about fries and tots (which, CURSES, but they have gluten)
  • rainunrefined
    rainunrefined Posts: 850 Member
    I would think banning PIZZA before potatoes would make more sense. Someone, somewhere always has to find something wrong with something... potatoes aren't going to be banned from public schools. It's just not going to happen.
  • luvinlaurakate
    luvinlaurakate Posts: 145 Member
    You are so right. The problem isn't the food so much as the fact that schools have become so focused on the kids passing tests and such that they have taken away all play time in hopes of increasing those scores.

    I never really realized the reality of this until we got on-post housing and our daughter started going to the base schools... it is set up completely different, because they don't have those same standards, or restrictions. She has a salad bar at lunch every day, and I don't know of many schools that can claim that. She gets the 3 recesses that I remember getting as a child, and although she has a phased gym (gym for 2 weeks, music for 2 weeks, art for 2 weeks...), I feel like they make the most out of their time... I always see kids outside playing when I drive by the school.

    I agree, just getting rid of potato products isn't going to fix the problem. There is far more to it than that.

    And I love tator tots as well. Had them for dinner last night and somehow still came under calories.
  • Qarol
    Qarol Posts: 6,171 Member
    Ah, our lovely tax dollars at work...
    *flush*
  • sunkisses
    sunkisses Posts: 2,365 Member
    how often do they actually serve baked potato in schools today? [. . .] It seems more likely that they don't serve baked potato so the "banned" potato is really about fries and tots
    This.

    The food being served at school, besides potatoes, is atrocious. At least in the county I live. When I was in school it was pretty bad as well. I remember in high school there was a salad bar, which I chose because the line was non-existent and I didn't care about eating. But it was iceberg lettuce, and a mound of bacon bits and cheese topped with full fat ranch dressing. Good times, good times.
  • lor007
    lor007 Posts: 884 Member
    Doesn't it make more sense to ban deep fryers?

    My school's food wasn't necessarily the tastiest, but nothing was ever fried. Breaded chicken sandwiches, french fries, the infamous tater tots, etc. were all baked. Although there could have been healthier options, at least they didn't throw everything into a deep fryer.

    Also, in high school we had the option of a well stocked salad bar Monday-Thursday and a baked potato bar on Friday's.
  • GymRatRaceRunner
    GymRatRaceRunner Posts: 160 Member
    But tater tots are awesome...
    +1 :D
  • writtenINthestars
    writtenINthestars Posts: 1,933 Member
    Oh yes....that insanely horrible potato....

    More like how about they offer an actual potato without cheese, bacon, and sour cream! No tots, fries, and chips.

    Gah...it's not the potato that's the problem..it's the way in which they serve it and in many schools and like everything else, it's loaded with fat filled crap.!

    I hate school lunch rooms....I could go on about this for a long time but instead I must just retreat~! RETREAT!
  • margo36
    margo36 Posts: 222 Member
    Maybe they should start by banning Junk Food and increasing activity. I often have a Baked Potato with Tuna and Salad and I'm trying to lose weight and consider it a good filling Lunch
  • GrammyM
    GrammyM Posts: 40 Member
    Sadly, it is true and they are limiting the amount of "starchy" vegetables (corn, peas, lima beans) to 1 cup per week.

    Just saw this guy speak on the subject at a conference last week.

    http://twentypotatoesaday.com/index.html

    He is on the WA potato board and ate nothing but potatoes for 60 days to prove how nutritious they are. He lost weight and lowered his cholesterol, blood glucose and triglycerides. Check it out.

    BTW, even Men's Health Abs Diet (which I follow) lists white potatoes as one of the most satisfying foods available when compared in a study to other 240 kcal portions of foods.
  • jakesmommy02
    jakesmommy02 Posts: 3
    I love taters! Why not have them in moderation? IJS! :)
  • iAMaPhoenix
    iAMaPhoenix Posts: 1,038 Member
    I think they should ban recess....Oh, too late. Save our tits..I mean tots.
  • Kate6868
    Kate6868 Posts: 159 Member
    I teach in a school. Yes, the potatoes contain too many calories! That's because, even the "baked" fries that they serve are coated in grease! I touch one the other day and had to go wash my hands. Perhaps they should start by banning the grease that they put on the foods!

    I also agree with the other posters - lets bring back activity! When I was a kid, we ate lunch fast so we could get outside faster to run and play. I rarely see that happen anymore. Kids finish eating and sit and text each other - even if they are sitting at the same table!
This discussion has been closed.

Categories