Cash Registers Against Student Obesity?

from the it's-one-way-to-do-things dept

Apparently, schools in Houston are about to put in place a new cafeteria checkout system that will allow parents to set the rules on what their kids can and cannot eat. Then, if students try to buy something on the forbidden list, the system won't let them. On top of this, the parents will then be able to monitor exactly what the kids did buy. Similar systems are already in place elsewhere, but the Houston project is getting press for being one of the largest. It's an interesting idea, though, you wonder how effective it really is. It seems likely that the kids whose parents did not enroll them in the program, or whose parents are especially permissive will suddenly become quite popular as being the proper mules for buying forbidden foods. Still, it also makes you wonder why something similar isn't created on a larger scale for adults? Imagine if your local super market was aware of your latest diet and warned you not to buy that container of ice cream.
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  1. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 21 Feb 2006 @ 4:42pm

    Hey, I resemble that remark!

    I'd like the acronym better if they called it "Cash Registers Against Student Heaviness".

    link to this | view in thread ]

  2. identicon
    !!, 21 Feb 2006 @ 5:07pm

    Is this the schools job?

    Idea!! Lets just put tiny chips in our kids stomach, so when they eat something parents can just hit a switch and shock the crap out of em....yeah.. lets do that, instead of maybe parenting, and teaching our kids what to and what not to eat. Then invest the money we've just saved into something like books and teachers?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  3. identicon
    JerCor, 21 Feb 2006 @ 6:08pm

    Regulate Eating Now!

    Eating the wrong food is clearly a terrorist threat and we should tell George about this so he can get Homeland Security to put this idea in effect in all supermarkets and especially fast food restaurants. Very simple, just do a BMI on everybody and then the computer can proscribe certain foods. Then we won't be the most obese culture in the world. Might even require exercise based on BMI: show your gym receipt before you can get an order of fries.
    Great idea. Anything to avoid personal responsibility.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  4. identicon
    Eerie DeJaVu, 21 Feb 2006 @ 8:33pm

    Re: Regulate Eating Now!

    Wow, that sounds like a book that you can buy from some conspiracy theorists that I know (click my url to see what I mean).

    link to this | view in thread ]

  5. identicon
    Andrew Strasser, 21 Feb 2006 @ 8:53pm

    A good laugh...

    "will suddenly become quite popular as being the proper mules for buying forbidden foods.

    Still, it also makes you wonder why something similar isn't created on a larger scale for adults?

    Imagine if your local super market was aware of your latest diet and warned you not to buy that container of ice cream."


    Absolutely hilarious.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  6. identicon
    Whale Hunter, 21 Feb 2006 @ 11:30pm

    No Subject Given

    Forget schools and kids. This system needs to be put into action ASAP for all the land-whales that are roaming our country. The sooner they can place this into the local Safeway with PETA oversight, the better!

    link to this | view in thread ]

  7. identicon
    giafly, 22 Feb 2006 @ 2:18am

    Only affects kids with no friends

    How difficult is it to get someone else to buy those cookies for you? I thought that was how most kids already get cigarettes and alcohol.

    But if you are one of those kids with no friends, let me pretend to be the first bully who waves a (virtual) box of fries under your nose while chanting "Nyah! Nyah!"

    link to this | view in thread ]

  8. identicon
    thecaptain, 22 Feb 2006 @ 5:02am

    Re: Only affects kids with no friends

    With the lazy asses masquerading as parents around, there will be PLENTY of kids who are allowed to buy whatever they want off the list in any quantity.

    I see a lucrative market for them.

    They buy fries for a buck, sell em for 2...

    Its a gateway crime for dealers! :)

    Just a note: This program would never have worked at my school..we had 2 McDonalds, a Burger King and a KFC within a block...a little further we had a Pizza Hut and a Tim Horton's donuts. Hardly anyone ate at the cafeteria on a regular basis.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  9. identicon
    dani, 22 Feb 2006 @ 5:47am

    Re: Only affects kids with no friends

    How much can a child possibly eat at lunchtime in school anyway?

    Food at school should be no more than 1/3 of a childs total daily intake, and they have 2 days off. Is childhood obesity really because the kid buys soda and an extra cookie at lunch?

    If children are raised to eat right, are offered healthy food at home, and, most important, the parents spend some time doing something active with their kids every once in awhile I think the problem would solve itself.

    Turn off the video game every once in awhile. Does anybody remember what school lunch taste like? I bought a slice of pizza everyday too!

    link to this | view in thread ]

  10. identicon
    abenton, 22 Feb 2006 @ 6:08am

    Re: Only affects kids with no friends

    well when you have 4-6 soda machines, the best tasting foods are the worst, and you combine that with little to no exercise at school, with 6+ hrs of sitting around drinking soft drinks, yes this is a big boost to obesity in our schools.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  11. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 22 Feb 2006 @ 8:23am

    No Subject Given

    Trade you a joint for two king-size snickers bars...

    link to this | view in thread ]

  12. identicon
    Gabe, 23 Feb 2006 @ 11:20am

    Give the kids some credit!

    I see a place for some resourceful kids making a KILLING selling Ho-Ho's and Ding Dongs on the lunchroom black market.

    That's the most rediculous thing I've heard all day. Pack your kids freaking lunch if you have a problem with what they'll buy.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  13. identicon
    cruiog, 15 May 2006 @ 10:27am

    Re: Is this the schools job?

    i beoigl isty isg!!!!

    link to this | view in thread ]

  14. identicon
    Bobo, 13 Jul 2007 @ 2:47am

    I think the system is so good ! Because it can make the children healthier . Also, it can make the parents don't have this very hard problem with their children . So, I think this is a good idea about install the system.

    link to this | view in thread ]


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