When was the last time you consumed soda? Most likely, it wasn't that long ago. You may even drink several cans or bottles each day. In the U.S, carbonated soft drinks are a huge business. Every year, they generate more than $50 billion in annual sales.
Two companies ? Coca-Cola and PepsiCo -- dominate the soda market. They are in a constant battle for the market share of the product ? a conflict known as the "Cola War." Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent annually for advertising. Not surprisingly, the companies are always looking for new markets. And, increasingly, they are directing their attention to adolescents and children.
For decades, schools have allowed soda to be sold in on-site vending machines. So, generating income for schools from the sale of soda is not a new policy. However, in the early 1990s, pouring-rights contracts emerged. These put a different spin on the sale of soda in schools. And, over the years, they have increasingly gained in popularity.
In return for the exclusive sale of one-company's product, pouring-rights contracts give school districts large lump-sum payments and extra payments and/or gifts over a period of five or 10 years. The contracts provide additional incentives for consumption levels that surpass quotas. So, they tend to encourage the consumption of higher amounts of soda, even by the youngest students. In one of the most extravagant contracts, a 53-school district in Colorado, gave up its Pepsi vending machines and signed an $8 million, 10 year agreement with Coca-Cola that included cash bonuses when sale targets were exceeded and a new car for a senior with high grades and perfect attendance. But, even the smaller contracts tend to be generous. The goal is to create brand loyalty among young people ? a loyalty that could continue throughout their lives. Without a doubt, administrators in cash-strapped school districts have a litany of reasons to be enticed. But, adherence to the contracts may be taken to extremes. For example, a Georgia student was suspended when he wore a shirt with a Pepsi logo to a student government-sponsored "Coke Day" rally.
So what is contained in a typical soda that may be found in a school vending machine? A 20-ounce screw-top plastic bottle of soda has 275 calories. While there are other ingredients such as flavorings and caffeine, the soda is primarily sugar and carbonated water. High in calories and zero in nutritional value, it is the quintessential "junk food." The Center for Science in the Public Interest refers to soft drinks as "liquid candy." Since the bottles have screw-tops, the liquid may be sipped throughout the day, thereby bathing the teeth with sugar and upsetting dentists. While it is unclear how many sodas a typical student might drink in one day, one is not a bad guess. Just one a day means 1925 empty calories per week. Heavy users drink more than one soda per day. Children who begin drinking soda when they are still young tend to increase the amount they consume through adolescence into young adulthood. Many children drink more soda than juice or milk. While juice and whole milk contain about the same amount of calories as soda, they contain useful vitamins and minerals. Juice and milk are far better nutritional options.
Although the relationship cannot be proven conclusively, soda consumption correlates with obesity. Children who drink sodas take in more calories, are fatter and have worse diets than those who don't. If you need to lose weight, start by replacing sodas with water, fat free or 1% milk, or 100% juice (but not too much).
Copyright ? 2005, by Weight Loss Buddy Press
Joey Dweck is the founder of http://www.weightlossbuddy.com committed to helping you find a 24/7 buddy who will not only help you lose weight but who also will get you to change to a healthy lifestyle. You choose your own diet and your own exercise regime, and we find you a buddy who literally will stick with you through thick and thin. Signing up for a buddy is free. Simply go to http://www.weightlossbuddy.c om or call 1-877-BUDDY-UP.
best cleaning company Highland Park ..Apart from eating many of the wonderful vegetables and fruits... Read More
Before the thirties, people knew the importance of mineral. Their... Read More
Today we're shifting our focus from wealth to health. First... Read More
Because all of us have been brought up eating junk... Read More
They sit left behind on relish trays. They're often by-passed... Read More
You say you don't know what glyconutrients are? You are... Read More
Mannatech's patent-pending glyconutrients complex, Ambrotose, is perhaps the greatest wellness... Read More
A frequent misunderstanding about macrobiotics is that it is a... Read More
Since the 1930's the western diet has dramatically changed. This... Read More
Heart disease results when plaque builds up inside the arterial... Read More
Before we get to honey we have a question from... Read More
Eating healthy and taking care of yourself is essential to... Read More
Many low carb dieters fall victim to "carb creep," which... Read More
While there are many effective ways to get more energy... Read More
Most recipes end with instructions to "serve immediately." You could... Read More
Summer is not too far away. It is almost time... Read More
The Zone Diet has been around since around 1995, when... Read More
During the past thirty years there has been a steadily... Read More
White-spotted or yellow splotched teeth may reveal more than needed... Read More
When I hear the word fat I usually think of... Read More
One of the biggest mistakes many new bodybuilders make is... Read More
The first place that we cut corners when we are... Read More
It is believed that cane sugar was discovered before the... Read More
Toxic metals exist in our environment as pollutants in our... Read More
OK, no more excuses. Here's how to stop making everyone... Read More
high-end home cleaning Winnetka ..Information on potassiumWhen you read about potassium and senate document... Read More
Summer brings a lot of fantastic things with it, but... Read More
Green tea has been used as for medical remedies in... Read More
Monosodium glutamate, commonly known as MSG, was thought of as... Read More
Constipation is the passing of dry, hard faeces fewer than... Read More
Picture yourself in one of the following scenarios.You're cruising along... Read More
Nutrition usually only comes up when people are finally deciding... Read More
What are Glyconutrients? Glyconutrients are eight newly discovered biologically-active sugars... Read More
Evidence for the importance of fruit and vegetable intake to... Read More
While there are many effective ways to get more energy... Read More
Tired of having stare-downs with those boxes of Krispy Kremes,... Read More
The natural antioxidants in Oat Bran can significantly reduce blood... Read More
Modern life can be stressful. There are so many concerns... Read More
Finally, dieters and healthy eaters everywhere have reason to rejoice,... Read More
I want to tell you about the most healthful and... Read More
The problem with sugar is that it doesn't contain any... Read More
Endurance Sports are like music concerts. They start at a... Read More
1. Look for high quality, crystalline, free-form, amino acids (AAs)... Read More
The quality of food we eat (or lack thereof) has... Read More
You are a mineral bodyEvery part of you is made... Read More
The ingredients list found on the back or side panel... Read More
Scandinavian fishermen are a healthy bunch. It had long been... Read More
How To Have A Healthy ThanksgivingEnd of the year holidays... Read More
There are basically four major components, or essential molecular components... Read More
In today's world, there's a definite need to be proactive... Read More
Nutrition |