A more topic geared blog
Looking back on topics that have more engaged readers, and coupling comments with my own personal interest, I’m thinking of making this blog a little more geared toward health and fitness.
This means anything that’s in the news, whether it be controversial or just informative, along with some personal rants of my own. I’m also going to be posting more frequently, so please check back a few times a week. And finally, even though it’s more a healthy lifestyle type blog, I will of course still comment on other topics happening, just not as frequently.
As always, please feel free to leave comments, and if you think having a topic geared blog is a bad idea, please also let me know that. Having a blog is not only for myself, it’ also for readers and will give members of our online community a place to share ideas. And, normally I just left comments on the post, but from now on I will be trying to more engage with readers. So if you have a question, leave it and I’ll write back.
With that being said, I’m moving on to today’s topic of Burger King deciding to limit the sodium in kids meals.
On Nov. 19 the fast food chain announced all kids meals will have less than 600 calories. They will also be pushing for more food combinations (think burger, goes with apple and milk) that also have less than 600. And for sodium the aim is kids meals to have 600 milligrams of sodium or less.
To give an idea of what is a healthy level and what is not, the American Heart Association recommends no more than 2,300 milligrams of salt a day. A quarter-teaspoon has nearly 600! (this is also the recommendation for adults. For children the exact amount is unknown, but according to multiple sources more and more children are being ailed with high blood pressure.)
And why is this important for parents, and really adults and children alike to keep in mind? Because too much sodium can lead to high blood pressure, which can cause heart attacks and strokes.
In addition to taking out the bad, the company is also going to make sure all kids meals have at least two healthy nutrients, like calcium, fiber or vitamin E.
And why was all this done? Well, Chief Executive John Chidsey said it was to provide customers with options to make healthy choices. He went on to say that customers weren’t specifically asking about lower calories choices, but they just wanted to give them those options anyways.
Well isn’t that nice? Too bad I’m not buying it. Sure, I think it’s great to give customers that knowledge, and to create healthy options for children, especially since that’s when habits are formed. But I think the real reason for the sudden health concern is because Burger King wants the hype Subway is getting.
Right now Subway is ranking No.1 among customers and franchises. And why? Because they appeal to both people just looking for a quick meal (think meatball sub…not great for you) and those who are health conscious (6-inch turkey sub and Jared).
But regardless of the alternative motives I think exist, I think the message to take away from all of this is good. Stop eating so much salt! (adults and kids).
Of course, I’m probably the biggest hypocrite I know when it comes to salt intake. See, I tend to eat a lot of blander foods, and salt and pepper have become a staple. Honesty, I even add salt to microwaveable meals, which we all know have plenty of salt to begin with.
So I’m going to give myself a challenge and stop adding salt to my food for the next week just to see how it goes. I looked around online and heard of things like sodium free Mrs. Dash, rosemary, sage and other herbs work just as well as bringing out some flavor as salt.
So dearly beloved Lawry’s Seasoning Salt, I’m leaving you on the shelf for a little bit.
