The Associated Press reports that California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to ban the sale of junk food at public schools. But a careful reading of the article indicates that they're talking about vending machines and replacing candy bars and soda with fruit and milk. A good start, but how about pulling the junk food out of the cafeteria as well? I'm talking about the Ding Dongs, Little Debbie Swill Rolls, Moon Pies, and Cheeze Doodles.

If for no other reason, see Super Size Me so you can see the junk that's peddled to students in public school cafeterias. No, I'm not talking about the rubbery Salisbury steaks or lumpy mashed potatoes, it's the "snack" foods loaded with highly-processed sugar and sodium (high-fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils are a safe bet, too) that the kids eat in lieu of the traditional hot lunch. Why is this? What is the argument against offering strictly healthy foods (i.e., main entrée item with choice of vegetables, sandwiches on whole grain breads, fruit for dessert, etc.). Sure, the kids will bitch—but let them. If they want to eat junk they can bring it from home where the parents are then somewhat culpable. As the parent of a 3-year old, you hear all the time, "If they don't want to eat what you're offering them don't worry about it, they won't starve." Why not using this approach on teenagers where they have an "out" by packing their own junk?

My high school cafeteria offered more junk items than the ones I frequented in college. My college cafeteria had desserts, sodas, french fries and all the rest but none of the packaged junk food. Do we really expect a horny 17-year old to sit still in chemistry class after gobbling two Dolly Madison Zingers and washing it down with a Dr Pepper? Then why be complicit by selling it at school? I understand the issue of vending machines, exclusive contracts, and revenues to the district but I'm talking about the cafeterias themselves. The vending machines can go but unless we get the junk out of the cafeteria you won't be changing much.