Healthier Default Drinks in Kids’ Meals in Maryland

by

Change
Share On Social!

SFM girl
Sugar Free Kids Maryland has all sorts of resources you can use to educate and motivate your community to choose healthier drinks. Source: http://www.sugarfreekidsmd.org/

Health advocates in Maryland are working hard to get healthier beverages into the hands of residents, especially children.

Early this year, a bill was introduced that would remove the sales tax on bottled water. Another bill is hoping to make beverages healthier for kids at restaurants.

This bill would require restaurants that offer children’s menus to serve only water, low-fat milk or 100% juice as part of the bundled kids’ meal price—though parents would still be able to choose another option if they’d prefer.

According to a newsletter from Prevent Obesity, a poll from OpinionWorks shows that nearly 70 percent of Marylanders (and 75 percent of Maryland parents) support legislation that limits the types of default beverages offered with kids meals to only healthy options.

The bill was discussed in House and Senate committee hearings in February.

Visit Sugar Free Maryland to learn more about reducing sugary drink consumption.

Read more about the bill here. 

By The Numbers By The Numbers

142

Percent

Expected rise in Latino cancer cases in coming years

Share your thoughts