Sugar, eggs, and trust

On February 3, 2023, the Biden administration’s USDA (US Department of Agriculture) issued new nutrition guidance for our nation’s school lunch programs — less sugar!

Why? To cut childhood obesity, a huge challenge in our nation. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that about a fifth of US children are considered obese. OMG.

As I read about this latest development, undoubtedly welcome, I can’t help but think back to my own childhood, growing up on a chicken farm, and wondering about what is happening to trust in our nation’s health policies.

Here’s my sugar, carbs, and eggs (proteins) story.

From fourth grade until I went to college, I grew up on a chicken farm in Flemington, New Jersey. It was called the Ideal Poultry Farm. I wonder if anyone reading this blog remembers that farm, which was on the edge of town on Bonnell Street. My mother had remarried, and that is what George was doing. Flemington was a wonderful place to grow up.

But, the chicken farm business in the 1950’s and 60’s was hard. Despite my parents’ best efforts — and they worked super hard on that farm — it continued to lose money. Many other small chicken farms in New Jersey found themselves in the same dire situation.

What was happening? Besides what these farmers could actually do on their small…