Fla. Schools Put Kids on South Beach Diet

[4beans4me]

Fla. Schools Put Kids on South Beach Diet

Friday, December 17, 2004

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Fad diets aren't just for adults anymore.

Nearly 3,000 elementary students in Osceola County, Fla., have volunteered to be on a kid-friendly version of the low-sugar, high-grain South Beach Diet.

Veggie burgers and grilled chicken have replaced Sloppy Joes and high-carb cake. And forget the white bread — now it's 100 percent whole wheat.

The program's creator, Dr. Arthur Agatston, shies away from calling the eating plan a "diet."

"We don't want the kids to think of themselves on a diet. If children make the right food choices, their weight and their waistlines will take care of themselves," Agatston said.

Parents agree that terminology is important here.

"That word kind of scares people, I think, but on the other hand, it's all about choices," said parent Theresa Olson. "You know you have a choice between the vegetables and the fruits."

Students are being weighed at the beginning and end of the study, and are encouraged to use pedometersto track how much they walk.

Of course, not all the kids are crazy about the food.

"Some people say, 'I don't like these foods, they're really gross,' and other people say, 'I like it, it was pretty good,'" said Victoria Olson, a third-grader.

The year-long program will end in May, but it may be expanded to other districts if officials find that students' weights and eating habits have improved.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,141876,00.html

[Samuel]

Feeding the children less carbs should help, however too much of high fiber food could cause their stomachs to expand in size which is not good on the long term.

[K Walt]

The 'High-Grain" South Beach Diet?

Did somebody miss something? Or is it just marketing here.

You know. . . like the 'All Natural Atkins Diet'

The 'whole foods' Protein Power Plan.

The Junk-Free Atkins Diet. . .

[CindySue48]

The 'High-Grain" South Beach Diet?

I thought the same thing! Now Agatston's marketing his diet as High Grain? :lol:

[AtkinsBOY1]

Im very concerned about this. I never really like the south beach diet and was alweyas agianst it. And now since it says its high grain that means it can cause heart disease. Heart disaes is realted to whol grain foods and especiialy whit flour. I persobnally dont eat that even whole wheat bread cause it bad for you. You really shouldnt eat any bread occainly I will have some atkins toast but thats not like an everyday thing. The southbeach diet i believe is dangerous to your health if he promotes lots and lots of grains. Especially if he says you can hve over 6 servings a day of grains or more. Thats the reason why we becaome fat is thnaks to grains. It was even edible until we found a way to make it digestible. I think he has to revise his plan and I stronlgy disagree with low fat approach. Itgs very unhealthy for long term affects here to support my claims read thsi aricle http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/rwgully/theories/locarb_vs_lowfat.htm

[tom sawyer]

Hey its an improvement over what most schools are putting out there. I wish the schools here would try that. I hope FL shows good results and that the nation follows suit. The time to teach people to eat helathy, is when they're young.

[potatofree]

Im very concerned about this. I never really like the south beach diet and was alweyas agianst it. And now since it says its high grain that means it can cause heart disease. Heart disaes is realted to whol grain foods and especiialy whit flour. I persobnally dont eat that even whole wheat bread cause it bad for you. You really shouldnt eat any bread occainly I will have some atkins toast but thats not like an everyday thing. The southbeach diet i believe is dangerous to your health if he promotes lots and lots of grains. Especially if he says you can hve over 6 servings a day of grains or more. Thats the reason why we becaome fat is thnaks to grains. It was even edible until we found a way to make it digestible. I think he has to revise his plan and I stronlgy disagree with low fat approach. Itgs very unhealthy for long term affects here to support my claims read thsi aricle http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/rwgully/theories/locarb_vs_lowfat.htm

Please go to the South Beach forum or read the book before you pass judgement on a plan you obviously know little about. MANY forum members are successfully following South Beach, and it has little to do with what you just posted.

[black57]

LA schools are removing carby foods which includes sodas and snack machines.

[woodpecker]

Agatston, shies away from calling the eating plan a "diet"

I wonder is orange juice, or any juice, is on the menu. If so, Agatston has sold out.

[Judynyc]

The only juice that is "on the plan" is vegetable juice. The amount of grains is 2-3 servings (1/2 cup is a serving ) per day, which is optional. Fruit is 2-3 servings per day, which is also optional. B oth of these factors are part of phase II of this plan.

South Beach is not a high grain diet!! That is totally wrong!! We do NOT eat white flour on this plan.

I occassionally have grain, generally in the form of a rye cracker with my breakfast. If I have too many grains, it interferes with my weight loss. I also will have 1/2 cup of brown rice every couple of weeks. I have eaten Dreamfields pasta, small portion, every couple of weeks.

I have been on South Beach now for the past 7 months. I have lost 65 lbs and am loving this plan...I also love this forum!! It has helped me to stay on plan. I do taylor it to fit my needs and likes though, ie: Dreamfields pasta! :yum: I hate whole wheat pasta!!

One of the best things that I've learned is about eating every 2-3 hours, small meals and snacks....this has really made a huge difference for me as I am never starving for my next meal!!

South Beach is a very good plan and one that kids will do well on as there are many foods on it that kids can have and have a truly balanced diet.