Say NO to flavored water (=soda!) in your school!
Target:
Pickens County School District, Student Nutrition Services
Sponsored by:
Recently Pickens county school cafeterias have started giving our children the option to buy an "aerated flavored water" drink for $1.00 above the cost of the meal. Disguised as a healthy choice, this drink is essentially a canned soda with 20 grams of sugar and 80 calories. This nutritionally empty drink endagers the health of our kids. Its sugar content contributes to tooth decay, to attention problems during classes and to the long-term risk of developing diabetes. Please, help us convince Student Nutrition Services of Pickens County School District to take this drink out of the school market and out of our cafeterias. Sign this petition and have your voice be heard!
Recently Pickens county school cafeterias have started giving our children the option to buy an "aerated flavored water" drink for $1.00 above the cost of the meal. Disguised as a healthy choice, this drink is essentially a canned soda with 20 grams of sugar and 80 calories. This nutritionally empty drink endagers the health of our kids. Its sugar content contributes to tooth decay, to attention problems during classes and to the long-term risk of developing diabetes. Please, help us convince Student Nutrition Services of Pickens County School District to take this drink out of the school market and out of our cafeterias. Sign this petition and have your voice be heard!
It has come to our attention, that in Pickens county schools have started giving our children the option to buy an "aerated flavored water" drink for $1.00 above the cost of their lunch in school cafeterias. We are surprised that Student Nutrition Services deem FlavH2O drinks appropriate to sell in schools to children.
We would like to inform you that this drink is nearly as unhealthy as any carbonated soda drinks, which have been banned from schools for years now. While its manufacturer (Navajo Inc.) might try to disguise FlavH2O as a healthy choice by emphasizing its translucency and fruity flavor, it cannot hide that fact that it DOES contain 20 grams of sugar and 80 calories.
This drink introduces a number of risks to our students. This nutritionally empty drink endangers the health of our kids, can contribute to weight gain and to the long-term risk of developing diabetes. Its sugar content can compromise our children's dental health. Teachers have observed that it negatively influences students' attention span during classes. Its distribution adds time and space challenges to our already tight lunchroom procedures. Its cost burdens our families' budget in ways that parents often are not aware of.
With the leadership of Clemson Elementary PTA's GoGreen Initiative, parents are raising their voice to stop selling disguised sodas to our children in our school districts' schools. We request that you remove this drink from the district's cafeterias and the school market permanently as soon as possible.
Thank you for taking time to read our letter and considering our request.
We would like to inform you that this drink is nearly as unhealthy as any carbonated soda drinks, which have been banned from schools for years now. While its manufacturer (Navajo Inc.) might try to disguise FlavH2O as a healthy choice by emphasizing its translucency and fruity flavor, it cannot hide that fact that it DOES contain 20 grams of sugar and 80 calories.
This drink introduces a number of risks to our students. This nutritionally empty drink endangers the health of our kids, can contribute to weight gain and to the long-term risk of developing diabetes. Its sugar content can compromise our children's dental health. Teachers have observed that it negatively influences students' attention span during classes. Its distribution adds time and space challenges to our already tight lunchroom procedures. Its cost burdens our families' budget in ways that parents often are not aware of.
With the leadership of Clemson Elementary PTA's GoGreen Initiative, parents are raising their voice to stop selling disguised sodas to our children in our school districts' schools. We request that you remove this drink from the district's cafeterias and the school market permanently as soon as possible.
Thank you for taking time to read our letter and considering our request.
We signed the "Say NO to flavored water (=soda!) in your school!" petition!
# 92:
8:14 am PDT, Sep 5,
Name not displayed, Massachusetts
# 91:
3:13 pm PDT, Aug 12,
Janice Laine, California
Childhood diabetes is caused by too much sugar and high fructose corn syrup additives!
Childhood diabetes is caused by too much sugar and high fructose corn syrup additives!
# 90:
10:04 pm PDT, Jun 7,
Melissa Boyce, South Carolina
Candies and sodas have no place in an institution that is supposed to be promoting the health and education of our countries future.
Candies and sodas have no place in an institution that is supposed to be promoting the health and education of our countries future.
# 89:
8:23 am PST, Jan 12,
Jack MeHoff, Alabama
Why is this issue important to YOU? Why is healthy school nutrition important to YOU? Share your experiences and suggestions concerning public school lunch services!
Why is this issue important to YOU? Why is healthy school nutrition important to YOU? Share your experiences and suggestions concerning public school lunch services!
# 88:
8:29 pm PST, Jan 11,
Name not displayed, South Carolina
# 87:
4:19 am PST, Jan 8,
Adair Hoover, South Carolina
# 86:
7:49 pm PST, Jan 7,
Meg Dyar, South Carolina
# 85:
9:23 am PST, Dec 23,
Sherry Ann Jn Baptiste, Saint Lucia
Luch should be healthy and aids kids in learning and it should be a healthy as ever. sodas are just sugar and get the kids excited.
Luch should be healthy and aids kids in learning and it should be a healthy as ever. sodas are just sugar and get the kids excited.
# 84:
11:57 am PST, Dec 18,
Alison Brown, New York
# 83:
9:33 am PST, Dec 18,
Diane Angelo, Florida
As a mother it is hard to get my kids to stay away from soda and other sugary drinks, so when they see flavored water they think 'OH! It is ok it's water.. and that's healthy right...?!" We need to drive them away from this idea. I was intrigued by this so called ultra pure water, WAT-AAH! I just checked out the website, and i must say it is pretty impressive. This is the kind of things kids need. A water for them... a water free of sugar! I think this brand really has something going here looks like they are on the right track. I say lets get this flavored water out of schools and WAT-AAH! in them!
As a mother it is hard to get my kids to stay away from soda and other sugary drinks, so when they see flavored water they think 'OH! It is ok it's water.. and that's healthy right...?!" We need to drive them away from this idea. I was intrigued by this so called ultra pure water, WAT-AAH! I just checked out the website, and i must say it is pretty impressive. This is the kind of things kids need. A water for them... a water free of sugar! I think this brand really has something going here looks like they are on the right track. I say lets get this flavored water out of schools and WAT-AAH! in them!
# 82:
9:26 am PST, Dec 18,
Anthony Bianco, New York
Its important simply because childhood obesity is very real and as a society we ignore the real causes of it. No school (or childcare facilities for that matter) should be promoting/selling products which encourage the consumption of unhealthy products- beverages or foods. Schools are for education - lets teach our kids about nutrition where they're supposed to be going to learn.
Its important simply because childhood obesity is very real and as a society we ignore the real causes of it. No school (or childcare facilities for that matter) should be promoting/selling products which encourage the consumption of unhealthy products- beverages or foods. Schools are for education - lets teach our kids about nutrition where they're supposed to be going to learn.
# 81:
9:14 am PST, Dec 18,
Gong Hee Kim, New York
Essentially, all public and private schools across this nation should ban any and every kind of soft drinks immediately in order to alleviate such drastic growth of obesity epidemic in our children today; regrettably, American schools have been neglecting their roles as they casually think it is acceptable to resort to "healthier" alternatives which sadly contain just as much sugar and sodium in them when one compares these flavored water beverages with soft drinks that are being pinalized for having "too much sugar". I am a mom of two beautiful children living in New York City, and I'm extremely irritated at the fact that these schools are not performing adequate researches to find the healthiest alternative to these sugar laden beverages. My children have been drinking WAT-AAH!, and I'm sure a vast majority of U.S. population are not aware of it as WAT-AAH! is a relatively new brand (... I think. Correct me if I was wrong). But they have designed a "functional water" for children. And really, it is literally W-A-T-E-R, H2O with some ingredients like electrolytes, calcium and magnesium to aid children replenish their bodies and fortify their bones. My children absolutely detested the idea of drinking water, but now with WAT-AAH!'s catchy and colorful neon labels, water is all they ever want to drink. I'm not gonna lie. I was - as a mother - pretty skeptical at first too, but hey. It does the job and it ultimately helped my children to make smarter choices. This can actually be a beginning step to heal our children who are extremely overweight! Their website is absolutely worth visiting as well: www.drinkwataah.com
Essentially, all public and private schools across this nation should ban any and every kind of soft drinks immediately in order to alleviate such drastic growth of obesity epidemic in our children today; regrettably, American schools have been neglecting their roles as they casually think it is acceptable to resort to "healthier" alternatives which sadly contain just as much sugar and sodium in them when one compares these flavored water beverages with soft drinks that are being pinalized for having "too much sugar". I am a mom of two beautiful children living in New York City, and I'm extremely irritated at the fact that these schools are not performing adequate researches to find the healthiest alternative to these sugar laden beverages. My children have been drinking WAT-AAH!, and I'm sure a vast majority of U.S. population are not aware of it as WAT-AAH! is a relatively new brand (... I think. Correct me if I was wrong). But they have designed a "functional water" for children. And really, it is literally W-A-T-E-R, H2O with some ingredients like electrolytes, calcium and magnesium to aid children replenish their bodies and fortify their bones. My children absolutely detested the idea of drinking water, but now with WAT-AAH!'s catchy and colorful neon labels, water is all they ever want to drink. I'm not gonna lie. I was - as a mother - pretty skeptical at first too, but hey. It does the job and it ultimately helped my children to make smarter choices. This can actually be a beginning step to heal our children who are extremely overweight! Their website is absolutely worth visiting as well: www.drinkwataah.com
# 80:
7:17 am PST, Dec 8,
Peter Demptur, South Carolina
I'm not happy that my kids are offered pseudo sodas and I support the effort to remove them from all cafeterias. I have the belief that there's some policy against selling sodas in schools... Haven't a few years ago soft-drink companies agree to take their products out of elementary schools? Isn't there any regulation regarding this?
I'm not happy that my kids are offered pseudo sodas and I support the effort to remove them from all cafeterias. I have the belief that there's some policy against selling sodas in schools... Haven't a few years ago soft-drink companies agree to take their products out of elementary schools? Isn't there any regulation regarding this?
# 79:
7:03 am PST, Dec 8,
Leah Remington, South Carolina
This issue is important to me because i have kids in the school system. While my kids do take their own lunches with whole grain organic products, void of artificial sweeteners and coloring and with no sugar, it concerns me what students, whose parents work and cannot pack lunches are fed. One the one hand, I think we should be really greatful that the district provides lunches at all to students. It is a wonderful service for the families. BUT: we cannot cut corners at the expanse of the future generation. The school's task is to teach not only algebra, but life-long skills of proper nutrition. And this should be done not through handouts but through action. When a school offers a drink like this water, it's giving the message: it's ok to drink this. And it is not! Water is the best choice!
This issue is important to me because i have kids in the school system. While my kids do take their own lunches with whole grain organic products, void of artificial sweeteners and coloring and with no sugar, it concerns me what students, whose parents work and cannot pack lunches are fed. One the one hand, I think we should be really greatful that the district provides lunches at all to students. It is a wonderful service for the families. BUT: we cannot cut corners at the expanse of the future generation. The school's task is to teach not only algebra, but life-long skills of proper nutrition. And this should be done not through handouts but through action. When a school offers a drink like this water, it's giving the message: it's ok to drink this. And it is not! Water is the best choice!
# 78:
8:39 am PST, Nov 20,
Name not displayed, South Carolina
ARE YOU PARENTS KIDDING! I KNOW SOME OF YOU AND IT'S RIDICULOUS THAT YOU'RE THE SAME PARENTS THAT GIVE JUICE TO YOUR KIDS THAT HAVE MORE THAN DOUBLE THE SUGAR THAN THIS DRINK! DON'T TARGET THE COMPANY OR THE SCHOOL THAT IS WORKING WITHIN THE GUIDELINES OF THE NUTRITION PROGRAM. IF YOU DON'T WANT your kids DRINKING THIS, THEN tell your kids NOT TO BUY IT. DON'T TAKE THIS AWAY FROM MY KIDS OR ANY OTHER KID THAT WANTS TO DRINK THIS AND ENJOY THEIR LUNCH. WE HAVE THE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE WHAT WE WANT FOR OUR FAMILY, NOT YOU!
ARE YOU PARENTS KIDDING! I KNOW SOME OF YOU AND IT'S RIDICULOUS THAT YOU'RE THE SAME PARENTS THAT GIVE JUICE TO YOUR KIDS THAT HAVE MORE THAN DOUBLE THE SUGAR THAN THIS DRINK! DON'T TARGET THE COMPANY OR THE SCHOOL THAT IS WORKING WITHIN THE GUIDELINES OF THE NUTRITION PROGRAM. IF YOU DON'T WANT your kids DRINKING THIS, THEN tell your kids NOT TO BUY IT. DON'T TAKE THIS AWAY FROM MY KIDS OR ANY OTHER KID THAT WANTS TO DRINK THIS AND ENJOY THEIR LUNCH. WE HAVE THE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE WHAT WE WANT FOR OUR FAMILY, NOT YOU!
# 76:
7:11 am PST, Nov 20,
TERRY SHINDLE, South Carolina
THE FLAVORED WATER IN SC SCHOOLS IS NOT BAD FOR YOU. THE SUGAR IN THE WATER IS LEVULOSE A FORM OF FRUCTOSE(GOOD SUGAR FOUND IN FRUITS AND PLANTS AND SEEDS.) NO CALORIE WATER HAS THE ARTIFICIAL SWEETNERS IN THEM WORSE FOR THE CHILDREN. THE WATER IS SERVED FOR THE HYDRATION PROGRAM FOR KIDS IN SCHOOLS. YOUR CHILD AND THE PARENT SHOULD DRINKS 8 GLASSES OF WATER A DAY FOR HYDRATION PURPOSES. BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THE PARENTS NEED TO GET THE CHILDREN OUTSIDE INSTEAD OF LETTING THEM SIT AROUND ON THERE CELL PHONES AND COMPUTERS DOING NOTHING. THE SCHOOLS AND COMPANIES ARE ALWAYS CHANGING DUE TO THE USDA REGULATIONS EACH YEAR. IF YOU WANT THE CHILDREN TO LOOSE WEIGHT PARENTS DO YOUR THING AND GET THEM OUTSIDE IN ACTIVITIES. PARENTS TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR SELF AND STOP BLAMING THE SCHOOLS FOR THE OBESITY OF YOUR CHILD. MOTHERS HOW MANY OF YOU COOK DINNERS FOR YOUR CHILDREN.
THE FLAVORED WATER IN SC SCHOOLS IS NOT BAD FOR YOU. THE SUGAR IN THE WATER IS LEVULOSE A FORM OF FRUCTOSE(GOOD SUGAR FOUND IN FRUITS AND PLANTS AND SEEDS.) NO CALORIE WATER HAS THE ARTIFICIAL SWEETNERS IN THEM WORSE FOR THE CHILDREN. THE WATER IS SERVED FOR THE HYDRATION PROGRAM FOR KIDS IN SCHOOLS. YOUR CHILD AND THE PARENT SHOULD DRINKS 8 GLASSES OF WATER A DAY FOR HYDRATION PURPOSES. BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THE PARENTS NEED TO GET THE CHILDREN OUTSIDE INSTEAD OF LETTING THEM SIT AROUND ON THERE CELL PHONES AND COMPUTERS DOING NOTHING. THE SCHOOLS AND COMPANIES ARE ALWAYS CHANGING DUE TO THE USDA REGULATIONS EACH YEAR. IF YOU WANT THE CHILDREN TO LOOSE WEIGHT PARENTS DO YOUR THING AND GET THEM OUTSIDE IN ACTIVITIES. PARENTS TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR SELF AND STOP BLAMING THE SCHOOLS FOR THE OBESITY OF YOUR CHILD. MOTHERS HOW MANY OF YOU COOK DINNERS FOR YOUR CHILDREN.
# 75:
1:30 pm PST, Nov 14,
Gerald Kurtz, Pennsylvania
It does not lead to attention problems. Attention has been taught to you. You didn't pay attention when you were running around the house aimlessly when you were a child did you? Anyway, flavored water tastes like ass, get rid of it.
It does not lead to attention problems. Attention has been taught to you. You didn't pay attention when you were running around the house aimlessly when you were a child did you? Anyway, flavored water tastes like ass, get rid of it.
# 74:
11:58 am PST, Nov 13,
Name not displayed, Florida
Our kids deserve the best!!!!!
Our kids deserve the best!!!!!
# 73:
12:13 pm PST, Nov 7,
Scott Brame, South Carolina
The basis of education starts with a healthy diet and children learn about sensible diets from the foods they are offered. If nutritionally void drinks (and food items) are offered at the school cafeteria then we are teaching them that these items are acceptable alternatives to more desirable nutritionally-dense foods and drinks.
The basis of education starts with a healthy diet and children learn about sensible diets from the foods they are offered. If nutritionally void drinks (and food items) are offered at the school cafeteria then we are teaching them that these items are acceptable alternatives to more desirable nutritionally-dense foods and drinks.
# 72:
8:25 am PST, Nov 5,
Heather Batt, South Carolina
# 71:
7:21 am PST, Nov 5,
Phil Maiberger, South Carolina
Kids are not getting proper nutrition!!
Kids are not getting proper nutrition!!
# 70:
6:35 am PST, Nov 5,
Sarah Maiberger, South Carolina
As a mother of three, I work hard to stress the importance of nutrition to my children. I would appreciate the support of the schools in helping our children make healthy food AND DRINK choices. Snack bars, vending machines, sodas, flavored water -- all of these lure our children away from healthy eating and create life-long habits for poor nutrition.
As a mother of three, I work hard to stress the importance of nutrition to my children. I would appreciate the support of the schools in helping our children make healthy food AND DRINK choices. Snack bars, vending machines, sodas, flavored water -- all of these lure our children away from healthy eating and create life-long habits for poor nutrition.
# 69:
8:38 pm PST, Nov 4,
Pam Boland, Georgia
# 68:
5:03 am PST, Nov 4,
Jennifer Gardner, Florida
# 67:
5:06 pm PST, Nov 3,
Name not displayed, South Carolina
it bothers me that we were not notified the water was available for sale. expecially since it cost $1. to purchase it. it also bothers me that the school board thinks this is a smart thing to offer elementary age children! they are still learning how to eat healthy and make wise choices on there own. but most of those choice are made with the guidance of us the parents. how is that possible if we aren't even aware of the choice. so that being said, i think we have more than one problem here.the school boards choices and, we as parents should have been notified before our children were able to pay for this from there lunch account. it worries me as a parent what else is being done in the schools that we are not aware of.
it bothers me that we were not notified the water was available for sale. expecially since it cost $1. to purchase it. it also bothers me that the school board thinks this is a smart thing to offer elementary age children! they are still learning how to eat healthy and make wise choices on there own. but most of those choice are made with the guidance of us the parents. how is that possible if we aren't even aware of the choice. so that being said, i think we have more than one problem here.the school boards choices and, we as parents should have been notified before our children were able to pay for this from there lunch account. it worries me as a parent what else is being done in the schools that we are not aware of.
# 66:
3:15 pm PST, Nov 3,
Jacqueline Mouzon, South Carolina
# 65:
9:51 am PST, Nov 3,
Cheryl Hosler, South Carolina
It would be nice if someone representing the majority of parents, for example, the PTA or other such groups would be notified of decisions like this BEFORE they were implemented in our schools. Also, were does the extra $1.00 per bottle, go!
It would be nice if someone representing the majority of parents, for example, the PTA or other such groups would be notified of decisions like this BEFORE they were implemented in our schools. Also, were does the extra $1.00 per bottle, go!
# 64:
6:49 am PST, Nov 3,
Bill Purkerson, South Carolina
# 63:
4:18 am PST, Nov 3,
Ann Howard, South Carolina
# 62:
3:26 am PST, Nov 3,
Karen Rasbornik, South Carolina
Please remove the aerated flavored water drink from Clemson Elementary School's cafeteria. Please allow the children to select milk (skim, chocolate, etc) or water. Your help as Director of Student Nutrition Services of Pickens County School District in assisting our children in building strong bones, reducing their chances of Type2 diabetes and promoting healthy lunch choices is much appreciated.
Please remove the aerated flavored water drink from Clemson Elementary School's cafeteria. Please allow the children to select milk (skim, chocolate, etc) or water. Your help as Director of Student Nutrition Services of Pickens County School District in assisting our children in building strong bones, reducing their chances of Type2 diabetes and promoting healthy lunch choices is much appreciated.
# 61:
2:48 am PST, Nov 3,
Lauren Young, South Carolina
# 60:
6:54 pm PST, Nov 2,
Nadine McCallum, South Carolina
This type of drink masquerading as "water" is commonly misunderstood as a "healthy" choice, but is actually a source of unnecessary sugar & calories w/no extra nutritional benefit. I agree -- milk or water are the only choices elementary students need. Now if we could just work on getting soda & "energy" drinks out of the middle and high schools...!
This type of drink masquerading as "water" is commonly misunderstood as a "healthy" choice, but is actually a source of unnecessary sugar & calories w/no extra nutritional benefit. I agree -- milk or water are the only choices elementary students need. Now if we could just work on getting soda & "energy" drinks out of the middle and high schools...!
# 59:
6:19 pm PST, Nov 2,
Gloria Love, South Carolina
# 58:
5:51 pm PST, Nov 2,
Karen Dekle, South Carolina
# 57:
5:42 pm PST, Nov 2,
Ann Summers Sudduth, South Carolina
# 56:
7:14 am PDT, Nov 1,
Mary Turner, South Carolina
# 55:
2:58 am PDT, Nov 1,
Can Atik, Turkey
# 54:
6:55 pm PDT, Oct 31,
Joey Williamson, South Carolina
Please remove the aerated flavored water drink from Clemson Elementary School's cafeteria. There is NO place for this sort of worthless and harmfull option. With many children being overweight these days, they do not not this sugar water drink as a choice. Thank you very much for a prompt response.
Please remove the aerated flavored water drink from Clemson Elementary School's cafeteria. There is NO place for this sort of worthless and harmfull option. With many children being overweight these days, they do not not this sugar water drink as a choice. Thank you very much for a prompt response.
# 53:
6:08 am PDT, Oct 31,
Chip and Mary Beth Smith, South Carolina
As the parents of a child with braces, we are totally against the flavored water for obvious reasons. We, like many others, were unaware of the sugar content in the drinks.
As the parents of a child with braces, we are totally against the flavored water for obvious reasons. We, like many others, were unaware of the sugar content in the drinks.
# 52:
5:01 am PDT, Oct 31,
Name not displayed, South Carolina
Offering a drink with 20 grams of sugar goes against this day and time's trend toward healthier nutrition in our schools! Please take this off the "menu".
Offering a drink with 20 grams of sugar goes against this day and time's trend toward healthier nutrition in our schools! Please take this off the "menu".
# 51:
4:40 am PDT, Oct 31,
Allison Gillespie, South Carolina
It would be great to replace with REGULAR water. I wish the options were regular water and skim milk - no chocolate milk or sugar water. We all need to work harder and together to help our children embrace healthier lifestyles.
It would be great to replace with REGULAR water. I wish the options were regular water and skim milk - no chocolate milk or sugar water. We all need to work harder and together to help our children embrace healthier lifestyles.
