In Wisconsin, high school athletes are complaining about not getting enough to eat each day, due to the skimpy new school lunch menu mandated by the United States Department of Agriculture and First Lady Michelle Obama.

The story we published earlier this week on that subject is unfortunately not unique. Students across the country are complaining about the new school lunch regulations.

Perhaps the real motive is to starve students into slimming down. Just ask students in Pierre, South Dakota who, too, are in an all-out revolt.

“I know a lot of my friends who are just drinking a jug of milk for their lunch. And they are not getting a proper meal,” middle school student Samantha Gortmaker told Keloland.com.

Despite the fact that the new regulations have increased the cost of a lunch 20 to 25 cents per plate, it’s not pleasing students.

Some are throwing away their vegetables while others are adapting to the rules by becoming industrious. In New Bedford, Massachusetts, students have created a black market – for chocolate syrup. The kiddie capitalists are smuggling in bottles of it and selling it by the squeeze, according to SouthCoastToday.com.

Nancy Carvalho, director of food services for New Bedford Public Schools, was quoted as saying that hummus and black bean salads have been tough sells in elementary cafeterias. That means even smaller children are going through the day fighting hunger pains, which can never be considered a good thing.

One government official tried to put the blame on the students.

“One thing I think we need to keep in mind as kids say they’re still hungry is that many children aren’t used to eating fruits and vegetables at home, much less at school. So it’s a change in what they are eating. If they are still hungry, it’s that they are not eating all the food that’s being offered,” USDA Deputy Undersecretary Janey Thornton was quoted as saying.

Complaints Mount Against Michelle Obama’s New Lunch Menu – Kyle Olson – [page]

The Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine early this month opened the country’s first animal obesity clinic at its Henry and Lois Foster Hospital for Small Animals in North Grafton, Mass.

Featuring three American College of Veterinary Nutrition board-certified nutritionists, the Tufts Obesity Clinic for Animals aims to help pet owners create weight loss plans and balance nutrition for their cats and dogs.

“I think a lot of people are either not aware that their animal is overweight or of the negative health consequences of being overweight,” Lisa Freeman, professor of clinical sciences at the Cummings School, said. “This is a place that they can come to get really comprehensive care in both preventing and treating obesity.”

The clinic has an all-inclusive $250 fee that covers an initial appointment, four to six check-ups and the Foster Hospital’s registration fee. Once a pet owner pays, he or she can contact the on-call nutritionist with questions at any time, Research Assistant Professor at Cummings Deborah Linder said.

“I just really want to get the word out that [pet] obesity is so common and that it’s harmful,” Linder said. “With so many other diseases we do our best to help them, but we can’t always provide a cure or treatment. With obesity we can really attack it from all sides.”

Cummings School opens animal obesity clinic – Tufts Daily – Tufts University