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Blog Entry 20 of 27 The Donnanator Report

My favorite article topics have been soccer and healthcare issues related to my profession. I'm likely to keep focusing on those, and throw in social commentary and satire as necessary. There are plenty of health, nutrition and food behaviors just screaming for the kind of commentary possible with a blog, and who better to write those than a nutrition professional? I'm a big proponent of taking personal responsibility for health, and that philosophy will definitely influence my analysis of healthcare and health insurance issues. As for soccer, I've written about high school soccer, because that's what makes for good headlines, but clearly mainstream news organizations in the US need to improve coverage and analysis of all soccer, from local clubs to the World Cup.

Blog Url: http://denver.yourhub.com/~TheDonnanator

Are we ready for the diet president?

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Contributed by: Donna Feldman on 1/15/2008

The 2008 Presidential primaries brings a first. No not Barak or Hillary. Mike Huckabee is the first evangelical dieter to run for president. You may have met people like this. Whether they grew up overweight, or gained a lot of weight in adulthood, one day they see the light. It's Diet Time. With a vengeance. Food choices are stripped down, sugar banished and fat avoidance becomes an obsession. Exercise routines take over the daily schedule. They start to bore everyone to death talking about food, calories and how much weight they've lost. The medical problems clear up and reinforces their dedication.

Mr. Huckabee famously lost over 100 pounds at last count and reversed Type 2 diabetes. As a president, he would certainly bring his experience and personal dedication to any discussion on food or health policies. Not to mention state dinners. Will the distinguished guests be ready for plain grilled chicken breasts and lowfat salad dressing? Will the American populace be ready for a president who makes them feel guilty because they're 50 pounds overweight?

Most of the candidates, who haven't had Huckabee's experience, are focused solely on getting votes, not on their waistlines. This leads them to eat unconsciously as part of the vote-getting process. When supporters are handing out samples of local foods, what sane candidate can say "no thanks"? Chili-cheese bratwurst, ginormous BBQ sandwiches, doughnuts, triple ice cream cones, home made cookies, homemade cookies topped with brownies, fried chicken, with gravy yet. The list goes on. Is no one offering stir-fried broccoli?

My guess is that Mr. Huckabee, by sheer force of will and dieting experience, resists most of this food onslaught. He's seen the light, he's not going back. Apparently his ability to side-step all the well-meaning food didn't hurt his popularity in Iowa. So the other candidates should take a hint. What they all need is the Secret Service of Nutrition. A trained food and nutrition expert who shadows each candidate, complete with a walkie-talkie on the lapel and an ear-bud receiver. "Mr. Obama, bratwurst incoming at 4 o'clock. Take one bite. Hand the bratwurst to your aide to your left. Smile and say Delicious!" OR "Mrs. Clinton, step AWAY from that ice cream cone. You've had enough calories this morning." At times of extreme calorie emergency, the Secret Service of Nutrition person will dash in and grab the offending food right out of the voter's hands.

Actually I'd be quite good at this. And frankly the candidates need this kind of intervention. Who wants to find that they've been elected President but gained 30 pounds in the process? While that might make them look more normal to their fellow Americans, it would be a bad idea to start your presidency with a new case of diabetes or high blood pressure. As for Mr. Huckabee's diet lifestyle, I'm sure there are plenty of people who admire his efforts and wish they had the same will power. Whether this affects voting one way or another is a open question.

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Submitted By: Nina Schnipper Higher Spa

posted on 1/31/2008 @ 12:17:13 AM

Rated Blog Entry

I agree with many things you are saying here, Donna. But although I am definitely NOT a supporter of Mr. Huckabee's candidacy, I think your wording is berating and might dilute some important points. Huckabee is not on a diet. He practices a healthy lifestyle. He advocates raising awareness about childhood health and the obesity crisis. * The childhood obesity crisis should be discussed alongside the economy and war, IMO!! * How can we openly discuss our healthcare system, but then ignore the enormous crisis of enormous kids?? **Doesn't anyone care enough about our kids to speak out against soda machines in schools, the demise of P.E. class, and other crimes against humanity ?!?!** I applaud any person, politician or otherwise, who rejects all the toxic crap labeled as "food". I respect any person who is ready to discuss our lousy eating habits and inactive lifestyles and who openly discussed how we can make some serious changes!

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Donna Feldman

Louisville , CO

Donna Feldman has posted 27 blog entries and 0 comments since joining on 9/14/2005. Donna Feldman 's average blog rating is 4.6.

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