In Natalie Webb's letter of Nov. 4 ("Don't ban soda, choose moderation"), she writes that, rather than telling kids not to drink sodas, "we need to help them understand how all foods and drinks can fit into a healthy eating plan." The problem is, sodas are loaded with empty calories that are almost immediately stored in the body as fat, they have no nutritional value and thus have absolutely no place in a "healthy eating plan."
As a registered dietitian, she should know that consuming the 10 teaspoons of sugar (not to mention the caffeine) in one can of Coke is not good for anybody, especially children. While exercising an hour a day is a sound recommendation, a good portion of that hour would be spent trying to burn those calories off if they follow her advice.
To reduce obesity, exercising an hour a day and minimizing soda consumption is the advice of the rest of the medical community not currently in the employ of a soda company.
Dan Jerrems, Towson
The writer is a physician's assistant.