Speak out 11.2.06

Quick lunches are bad

I'VE BEEN reading all the recent studies, comments and articles about the "no snacks at school" policies with avid interest. I'm an licensed dietitian with a doctorate in dietetics. My emphasis was youth nutrition and eating habits. One of the things being overlooked in this debate is something that is well within control of the schools, but they don't do it. Every study -- and there are a lot of them -- on the impact of _weight loss, fitness and nutrition and the speed of eating shows that the faster a student or adult eats, the more he or she will gain weight and the less fit he or she will be. I checked eight local school districts, and the average time for lunch is 20 minutes. That is a major mistake. Students should have a minimum of 25 minutes to 30 minutes for eating that should not include play time. I know you can't dictate that the kids go outside and play. But when you tell kids they have 20 minutes to eat and if they have any time left over they can go outside, you know they are going to scarf down their food, We need to change the way we schedule school lunches.

Obesity bigotry

IT WAS shocking to read the opinion of the anti-obesity fanatic who believes his child's teacher should be fired because the teacher is obese. This is fast becoming a tolerated form of bigotry. I have an eating problem. Do those who aren't fat believe that all obese people are obese for the same reason? I can do just as many sit-ups or work out as hard any non-obese person. I keep an immaculate car and home. I have received gifts from my supervisors for going above and beyond my call of duty. My cholesterol panel is beautiful, and I have zero problems with my blood sugar or blood pressure. Please, do not ever think that an obese person in any job should be fired because of his physical appearance.

Money is needed

REGARDING SOUTH Elementary School's fund raising: Anyone active in the PTO would realize that money is necessary to fund such things as a new playground, play, field trips and numerous other school activities.

Thanks to nurses

THANKS TO the A Wing nurses at the Missouri Veterans Home for being such dedicated nurses. They help the A Wing veterans get to chapel services on Sunday mornings. Those veterans, mostly World War II veterans, are special to all of us. God bless the veterans and nurses.

Fat -- and capable

I'M FAT. My husband's fat. My parents are fat, and so our my kids. Fat people are capable of doing their jobs. I've worked at my job for 25 years, and I'm good at it. Enough already. Lay off fat people.

Do something: Vote

ANOTHER FEDERAL agency is trying to control every aspect of our lives. We keep losing our rights one by one. I hear people complaining every day who say they can't do anything about it. You can do something about it. Get out and vote. Go to the polls and show your dissatisfaction.

Sensible project

I FOUND it heartwarming to read where a church is sending heifers to replenish cattle herds after Hurricane Katrina. That's a wonderful, sensible project, and practical too. It's just like _those good people from Gordonville to be so sharing.

Highway lines

WHEN IN the world is the highway department going to put the lines on the highway between Cape Girardeau and Jackson? Is it going to wait until somebody gets killed? I've heard dozens of _people saying they can't see at night or when it's raining. Why wait? Do it now.