国会新规定 披萨算蔬菜？！

 Well, back in the days of the Reagan administration, there was a big flap over the government’s effort to classify ketchup¹ as a vegetable for the purposes of this nation’s school lunch program. It didn’t work then. But now there’s a new fight over pizza and what really constitutes healthy food for our kids in school. Our report tonight from NBC’S Anne Thompson.

早在里根任期，政府为满足校园午餐计划，而将番茄酱算作蔬菜一事引发过不小的骚动，当年此举未能成功，但如今出现了新的争议，分歧在于披萨和学童健康食品标准。NBC记者Anne Thompson今晚为您报道。

Look at this picture. What do you see? In this week’s Washington Rorschach test, Congress sees a vegetable. A pizza alone, particularly pizza with no vegetables on it just tomato paste, it’s common sense, it’s not a vegetable. What’s next? Are Twinkies gonna considered a vegetable? Congress says a slice of pizza qualifies as a vegetable because it has two tablespoons of tomato paste. And it will remain a vegetable since this week Congress rejected the Department of Agriculture’s attempt to make school lunches healthier. Congress has put the interest of the pizza and French fry industries before the interests of our children and before our children’s health.

瞧这画面，你看到了什么？在本周华盛顿的罗夏测试中，国会将其看作蔬菜。仅仅是披萨，上面不加蔬菜，只有番茄酱的话，谁都知道这不算蔬菜。接下来还要怎样？夹心蛋糕也要算成蔬菜吗？国会称，一片披萨可算作蔬菜，因其含有两勺番茄酱。其蔬菜地位将会保持下去因为国会本周否决了农业部提议，拒绝将校园午餐健康化。国会把披萨和薯条产业的利益置于我国儿童和儿童健康之上。

The Agriculture Department wanted to cut back on French fries, reduce sodium², increase fruits and vegetables and require a half cup of tomato paste for a pizza slice to get a vegetable credit. But the food industry balked³ and argued kids would, too. For many of those kids served by the federal school program, this is their primary source of nutrients⁴ through the day. So we need to ensure that we are providing them foods that they will eat. 

农业部想要减少薯条，降低钠含量，增加水果和蔬菜，还要求每片披萨需含有半杯番茄酱方可满足蔬菜标准。但食品业进行阻挠并声称儿童也会同样反对。对于联邦校园餐计划所所服务的许多孩子，午餐是一天中主要的营养来源，所以我们要确保提供孩子们愿意吃的食品。

Parents in Chicago also want foods that are good for kids. Junk? I don’t think any of those belongs in school lunches, to be honest. I don’t want the kids to be my size, you know.

芝加哥众多家长也愿让孩子吃上健康食品。垃圾食品？说实话，我认为校园午餐中不该包含主要的东西。我不想让孩子们变成我这样的体型。

In the last 30 years, childhood obesity⁵ rates in the U.S. have more than tripled. First Lady Michelle Obama is on a mission to change that urging America’s kids to exercise and encouraging healthy eating.

过去30年，美国儿童肥胖率翻了三倍还多，第一夫人米歇尔?奥巴马致力于改变现状，呼吁美国儿童加强锻炼，鼓励健康饮食。

McDonald’s got the message reducing French fries and adding fruit to its happy meals. Red Lobster⁶ and Olive Garden are making their children’s menus healthier, too. But Congress isn’t budging⁷. It says pizza is a vegetable. Vegetables are vegetables. You know, that they’re coming out; they’re growing out of the ground. Giving America new food for thought. Anne Thompson, NBC News, New York.

麦当劳作出回应，在开心乐园餐中减少薯条，增加水果，红龙虾和橄榄花园也将其儿童餐变得更健康。但国会并不让步，称披萨就是蔬菜。蔬菜就是蔬菜，地里长出来的才算。为美国带来新的“事物”思考。NBC新闻Anne Thompson纽约报道。

1 ketchup   

n.蕃茄酱，蕃茄沙司

参考例句：

• There's a spot of ketchup on the tablecloth.桌布上有一点番茄酱的渍斑。
• Could I have some ketchup and napkins,please?请给我一些番茄酱和纸手巾？

2 sodium   

n.（化）钠

参考例句：

• Out over the town the sodium lights were lit.在外面，全城的钠光灯都亮了。
• Common salt is a compound of sodium and chlorine.食盐是钠和氯的复合物。

3 balked   

v.畏缩不前，犹豫( balk的过去式和过去分词 )；（指马）不肯跑

参考例句：

• He balked in his speech. 他忽然中断讲演。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• They balked the robber's plan. 他们使强盗的计划受到挫败。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

4 nutrients   

n.（食品或化学品）营养物，营养品( nutrient的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a lack of essential nutrients 基本营养的缺乏
• Nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream. 营养素被吸收进血液。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 obesity   

n.肥胖，肥大

参考例句：

• One effect of overeating may be obesity.吃得过多能导致肥胖。
• Sugar and fat can more easily lead to obesity than some other foods.糖和脂肪比其他食物更容易导致肥胖。

6 lobster   

n.龙虾，龙虾肉

参考例句：

• The lobster is a shellfish.龙虾是水生贝壳动物。
• I like lobster but it does not like me.我喜欢吃龙虾，但它不适宜于我的健康。

7 budging   

v.（使）稍微移动( budge的现在分词 )；（使）改变主意，（使）让步

参考例句：

• Give it up, plumber. She's not budging. 别费劲了，水管工。她不会改变主意的。 来自互联网
• I wondered how Albert who showed no intention of budging, felt about Leopold's desertion. 对于从未有迁徙打算的艾伯特来说，我不知道它会怎样看待利奥波德这样弃它而去呢。 来自互联网