Business
Hot Potatoes Become Political
June 6, 2011 
We have all heard of a political “hot potato,” but now we find that hot potatoes are also political.
That news comes from politicians who seek to keep the tuber that made Idaho license plates famous on the dinner plates of healthy Americans–especially school lunch plates. Idaho Reps Labrador and Simpson joined others in a letter to the USDA protesting a proposed cut in spud consumption among Americans.
The http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/06/06/1677725/is-there-room-on-the-plate-for.html has an interesting read along with well over 100 comments discussing the merits and demerits of eating spuds.
We never thought wolves would split along party lines either, but it looks like the Dems–led by the First Lady Michelle Obama–are getting mashed by the Repubs who oppose new nutrition guidelines.
The new USDA school nutrition proposal calls for fewer potatoes to be served in school breakfasts and lunches. Its aim is to cut down on how many french fries kids eat — and to replace them with green vegetables.
No word from Dan Quayle the former Vice President who told a kid to add an “e” on POTATO during a 1992 photo op in New Jersey.
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Comments & Discussion
Comments are closed for this post.
Jun 6, 2011, 7:01 pm
I don’t see this as a bad decision for the kids. No matter what Denise Austin says, a green vegetable will always be better than a tater for overall nutrition. My guess is the kids still get plenty of chances to eat tater tots and fries.
Jun 6, 2011, 10:11 pm
As long as they put a compost bin in the cafeteria so the kids can put all those green vegetables in it on the way to the lunch table.
Just because you serve it, doesn’t mean they will eat it. I still think that Dems have a really hard time thinking in market terms.
Jun 7, 2011, 12:39 am
A potato would be good nutrition in a balanced meal — but there is nothing balanced about French fries, and worse, most of the cafeteria fries aren’t even good.
Jun 7, 2011, 8:11 am
I love it when repubs get on their high horse about government regulation goring their ox. Now they know how it feels when repubs support more government regulation when it comes to individual freedom. I say bring on the recommendations to limit potatoes to kids, why not, it’s just another probably failed plan from another failed government bureau. Heck, deep down Simpson and Labrador probably know that since the government is wanting less potatoes at school lunch, then more will result. Just like the war on drugs, poverty, obesity, terror, the war on potatoes will be a tremendous success.
Jun 7, 2011, 9:22 am
A couple personal observations:
– Seems to me the “obesity epidemic” in this country is more about sedentary lifestyles, than it is about poor nutrition. (Although bad eating habits certainly contribute.) We are in constant pursuit of remote-control, power-operated everything, and for many folks, pushing buttons and keys is the extent of their physical exertion. It doesn’t take a nutrition scientist to figure out that you gain weight, if you don’t burn more calories than you cram in your potato[e]-hole.
– As the government takes over health care, we should all expect increased bureaucratic badgering about food choices, lack of exercise, unhealthy habits, etc., etc. And most likely increased taxes for making poor choices.
Jun 7, 2011, 9:42 am
My grade school aged grandkids say that they are “just about” the only kids they know at their school who like veggies – so other kids give them theirs (and my grandkids eat them). But their favorite is always a good dill pickle (that is as much of a veggie as a fry or a tot).
Jun 7, 2011, 10:20 am
Republicans – denying and disrespecting science, again.
Jun 7, 2011, 1:59 pm
There are any number of things you can do with a potato, however, tots and fries are about the same fat content as cream cheese @ 18% fat content by weight. And more often than not they are fried in hydrogenated cooking oils aka artery cement.
We have become a society that the four food groups are KFC, McDonald’s,Pizza Hut and any other fast food you care to name. Once or twice a week of this stuff is probably OK but more often is simply not good for children or adults.
Jun 7, 2011, 9:18 pm
How about the kids at the top of the conditioning chart have free choice and the others get a special diet. Kind of commie to make the healthy kids eat like that fatties.
They should also be mandating physical activity. Put them on exercise bikes which are wired into the schools greenpower grid. Alternate classes to provide lighting for the others to learn by. Teaching some basic physics then too. We might also use this for the teacher who need exercise but can’t find the time. This could be their classroom.
As for the Idaho rootball; ick. How the heck this every became a popular food is mysterious. It needs all kinds of stuff to make it taste like something other than tastesless mush. Might as well put all those toppings on some healthy but also bad tasting greens.
Lastly a skinny kid should not be presumed a healthy kid. He’s probably found a way to hide the food or feed the dog under the table.
Jun 7, 2011, 10:04 pm
We should be concerned about the fries and tots. But let’s address them after we address the processed chicken strips, hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza that is far worse than tater tots. The main concern in most districts is “how much?” not “how good for them”!
Jun 8, 2011, 9:44 am
Re Zippo’s insightful comment:
Things COULD be worse… at least it doesn’t say FAMOUS TURNIPS on our license plates!!
:-O