Legislation requiring restaurants in Delaware to make milk, water or 100% juice the default options on kids menus has passed the House and will be sent to Gov. John Carney’s desk for signature.
“House Bill 79 is an important step in beginning to change the way of thinking around healthy lifestyle choices. Oftentimes when eating out, we take the easiest or fastest option. And those options are usually the worst for us,” said Melissa Minor- Brown, Representative 17th District. “With the current rising rates of diabetes, obesity and heart disease, this generation’s life expectancy is being cut short and frankly they are not expected to outlive their parents. We have to continually work to change these statistics.”
“By switching the default beverage in a kid’s meal from a sugary drink to a healthy choice, we can lower childhood obesity rates, decrease our children’s affinity for sugar and add a nutritious supplement to their meals,” she added.
Similar legislation has passed at the local level in Baltimore and New York City and state-wide in California and Hawaii.
The American Heart Association in Delaware has lauded the bill.
“The American Heart Association strives to build a culture of health in Delaware by making the healthier choice the easier choice for every Delawarean and is proud of this change to kids’ meals, which is an important step in that direction.”, said Robin Horn MD, mission chairperson of the local chapter.
