Bye, Bye French Fry

   Jokes have already started to be cracked about the new federal government- issued limitations on fat and sodium in school cafeterias. People say that french fries and tater tots will be the new weed: students will smuggle them in and trade with each other in sketchy hallways. These restrictions will soon be, and already have been in some schools, instigated nation-wide. All students will be affected by it, whether it's for good, or if it's for bad.
   In an article (link) on the Time Magazine website, it is reported that the  US Department of Agriculture discovered that "17% of all children are obese. Not just overweight: obese." This is a truly present issue in the US, which is why the USDA created the Healthy, Hungry-Free Kids Act, which was signed by President Obama. While their intentions are good, should the USDA have the freedom to take away kids' choices of what to eat? When is it crossing the line for the government to make decisions about our lives?
   Many people are not happy about these new restrictions, and it's not just unhealthy-eaters that go to these schools. Many teachers and faculty members are upset because food is a big money-maker and incentive in schools. Whether it's a bake sale for a charity, a pizza party as a reward for a class, or a vending machine that some kids use on a daily basis, this will all be changed, and in some faculty's opinions, not for the better. People are now wondering how students will react to these changes. Will they take the bait and start to change their daily nutrition and eating habits, or will food in school cafeterias suddenly become a complete waste of money?
   For me, the biggest question is- does this act go against our right to free speech as it is stated in the First Amendment? Encouraging healthier options is one thing, but telling kids what to eat and taking away what has always been available to them is entirely another.