http://www.livenews.com.au/Articles/2007/09/10/Slap_junk_food_cereal_with_GST_obesity_experts

This news article is about exactly that, GST hitting children's junk cereal with GST to combat obesity.  The obesity epidemic is reaching incredible levels, and everywhere I go it's sad to see how many children even under school age are unable to play freely due to their size. At the beach last week I witnessed a family whose child was unable to chase birds because after just a few steps she was out of breath and needed to sit down.  She was probably under school age since it was a school day, but may not have been.

I understand there are many factors, including thyroid conditions, which can lead to childhood obesity but the main cause of it is parents feeding their children junk food.  I don't know how many times we are out shopping and witness an already over-weight child being given a donut to keep them in the trolley, followed by a flavoured milk shake which high in sugar even if it is reduced fat milk that's used, then later given a happy meal because it's too late to take them home and cook their dinner.

Increasingly children are starting their day with these junk food cereals, which as the news article states are closer in composition to chocolate biscuits and lollies, then they go off to school with lunch box items which include LCM bars, muesli bars, fruit bars, any number of items that are on the shelf now and are aimed at busy working mums as a quick and easy way to pack a lunch box.  They claim to be healthy yet they often contain more sugar than lollies and chocolates.  They come home and have fast-foods because mum and dad haven't finished work until late.

I'm not having a go at anyone for being busy, working parents.  I'm one of those myself.  I just hope that by tacking GST onto these products, parents might stop and think about what they're giving their kids.  There are many healthy alternatives to these that don't need to take all day and all night to prepare.

Starting the day with weet bix is much better than starting the day with rice bubbles, unless you pile the sugar on the weetbix.  An easy alternative, that's better for everyone, is to cut fruit up such as kiwi fruit, banana, and strawberries.

Hoping you all have a wonderful day!