oh yeaaaaahhhhhh!

do you ever wonder why we have a childhood obesity epidemic? well, wonder no more. be ready to cringe as i relate this exchange i just overheard:

"my kids are gonna have to learn how to fend for themselves. i said, 'you want some kool-aid? well, then: there's the water, there's the sugar, and there's the kool-aid packet. fix it yourself."

"you have to do that."

"yeah, and they know they aren't gonna get any soda. that stuff is so bad for them."

uh...what? and kool-aid is known for its smoothie-like properties? to wit, here is the list of "so much healthier than soda" ingredients:

Citric Acid, Salt, Modified Cornstarch, Red 40, Calcium Phosphate, Artificial Flavor, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Artificial Color, Natural Flavor, BHA (Preserves Freshness), Blue 1. Orange: Citric Acid, Maltodextrin, Salt, Calcium Phosphate, Natural Flavor, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Artificial Flavor, Yellow 5, Artificial Color, Red 40, Red 40 Lake, BHA (Preserves Freshness).

don't get me wrong -- i have consumed more than my share of kool-aid over the years, especially over this one specific six-month period my sophomore year of college (purplesaurus rex, 'twas). and who can forget snack time in kindergarten, sunday school, etc., where you were given a handful of 'nilla wafers and all the kool-aid you could drink.

kool-aid healthier than soda? apparently, the soda industry needs better PR!