"Sorry, No Fries Allowed!"

Growing up in an Italian household, I enjoyed some of the best food on planet earth. Chicken parmigiana, lasagna, meatballs, giambotte, antipasto and ravioli is just a small sample of the food that graced our plates on any given day. When a person grows up in an Italian home, you get a “doctorate in delicious” that no other school can duplicate. Along with all of the Italian delicacies, we had roast lamb, roast beef and fried chicken; I have yet to find a rival for anywhere. My Mother and my Grandmother were wizards in our kitchen and they have given me some of my fondest food memories. They have given me the benchmark for measuring what good food should be. I like going to different restaurants with my wife and sampling the fare that is offered. Barbeque, Mexican, Chinese, country cooking, burgers and even Korean food all fall into my “wheelhouse” when we think of eating out for a meal. I don’t always make the healthy choices; melted cheese, hot butter and red meat are among my favorite things and I do indulge myself.

I would like to propose a scenario for you. The scene will open with you and your spouse getting ready for an evening out, perhaps an anniversary or birthday celebration. You have both spent time deciding where you would like to go, even to the point of discussing which dishes you would order and what appetizers you would share. You both put on your nicest clothes and drive to your destination, you are seated and order your cocktails and begin to look at your menu; upon ordering, the waiter informs you that the dishes and the appetizer you ordered could not be served to you because it has been determined that your choices aren’t healthy enough, and a pre-selected meal will be prepared for you this evening. What reaction do you think you might have to the waiter’s statement? It would probably be “ARE YOU NUTS!” Do you think this could actually happen?

Last week, a pre-school child had her “homemade” lunch confiscated by her school when a FEDERAL INSPECTOR opened the lunch and determined that it didn’t fulfill government nutritional standards! When I heard of this, I was actually speechless for a while. This inspector had absolutely no right to “search” that child’s lunch. When did the government suddenly get the right, or permission, to usurp a mother’s prerogative as to what she should be able to feed her children? The child appeared healthy, clean and there were no visible signs of any type of abuse. This was a plain invasion of personal property from an intrusive government employee! The government decided what this child was ALLOWED TO EAT! I heard the contents of the child’s lunch, and I believe it was a turkey sandwich, juice and some chips! Tell me what you think of this lunch; it’s not “raw hot dogs” or cat food; it is a typical kid’s lunch! How do you think a pre-school child might feel as some stranger fumbled through her food, some person she didn’t know, someone she didn’t trust. This is the “Nanny State” in action, and the rest of our lives are the next target for this overreaching socialist government.

The next time you want to make a choice at “Burger King” or “McDonald’s”, you might want to look over your shoulder to see who is watching you!