To the editor:

On Feb. 5 the Journal-World reported that the Kansas Legislature was considering a bill saying that high school vending machines must contain 50 percent “healthy” foods. As a seventh-grader at Southwest Junior High School, I feel that offering healthy foods is a good option but stops short of the big picture. The big picture is overall health, including exercise. The Legislature needs to include requirements for exercise and stop cutting physical education programs. That way kids are active every day. Obesity is not just “calories in” but also “calories out.”

If students consume 40 percent of their calories at school, like the article said, then they also need to expend 40 percent of their calories at school.

Another part of the bill prohibits the use of candy as a reward in the classroom. I think that is terrible. Every teacher has their own method of getting kids to hand in their homework. If a teacher wants to hand out a Jolly Rancher every now and then, I think that is fine.

If the Legislature is serious about decreasing teenage obesity then change the vending machines and restore PE programs. As for the candy, the teachers need to be left alone so they can do their job.

Chip Allen,

Lawrence