Soda Tax
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter has proposed a “soda tax” as part of his next budget. Dollars and cents aside, why tax soda? The idea is this: sugary beverages are high in calories. High calorie diets are linked to obesity. By taxing soda the government can make back money it spends on health care costs related to obesity. At the same time, they hope the tax will discourage people from drinking soda thus decreasing obesity and healthcare costs in the future. This is not the first time this issue has been raised. Public health and government officials around the country have been debating this issue for months:
- Soda Tax Weighed to Pay for Health Care - Wall Street Journal
- Soda Tax Could Shake Up Industry - NPR
- Public Health Leaders Propose Soda Tax - ABCNews
Eating (and drinking) Better
Thanks to a lot of sugar, a 20 oz bottle of Coca-Cola Classic (for example) contains 241 calories and little to no nutritional value. Want a list of snacks that contain 250 calories (and vitamins and minerals)? Try this on for size. Need help managing your calories and planning nutritious meals for you and your family? Check out these sites:
- MyPyramid.gov - Find out how much of each food group you need.
- USDA National Nutrient Database - Look up the nutrients in the foods you love.
- Fruits and Veggies Matter - Make fruits and veggies a bigger part of your diet.
For more great resources, check out the PhillyHealthInfo.org Nutrition page.
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