In the article "Bad Food? Tax It, and subsidize Vegetables" Mark Bittman discusses how the food industry does not give enough importance to our health but instead they focus on making profit. Public health should be just as much importance as anything else. Bittman suggests that we place a heavier tax on unhealthy food such as junk food and soda. This type of tax is similar to sin taxes which is heavier taxes on things such as alcohol and tobacco. Placing a heavier tax on unhealthy food could lower its consumption and push people towards the healthier lifestyle. Many healthy foods cost more than junk food so we should place a heavier tax on unhealthy food and make healthy food more affordable. Bittman points out that "it's harder for many people to buy fruit than Froot Loops; chips and coke are a common breakfast." This may seem unfair to many people but our health is suffering. There are so many people obese and Type 2 diabetes is becoming common.
Alice Waters and Katrina Heron discuss the importance of feeding school children the right lunches in the article "No Lunch Left Behind." If the government provides schools with more money then they will be able to provide all the students a proper lunch. A lot of lunches that are given out aren't even prepared in the kitchen but simply "thawed, heated, or just unwrapped." Parents expect their children to get more out of school lunches but instead they are getting processed foods. More initiative should be taken to provide healthy lunches.
https://www.ted.com/talks/mark_bittman_on_what_s_wrong_with_what_we_eat/transcript#t-32505
I truly agree that unhealthy foods should be taxed and that the government should promote a change. They don't seem to care about our health as much, but neither do we since we continue to buy such things. Everyone, especially lower income families should be given the option to purchase fresh produce at a cheaper price, since the ones usually found are expensive.
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