New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has issued a ban on the sale of large sodas and other sugary drinks (anything over 16 ounces) at restaurants, movie theaters, and street vendors.

It’s part of his initiative to fight obesity, which is a growing problem affecting the nation. And while this is a great step forward, plenty of food out there is just as bad (if not worse) than soda.

How Soda Measures Up

A 20 oz bottle of soda has 240 calories and about 28 teaspoons of sugar. (Yikes.)

• Fruit drinks—soda in disguise. FDA says any drink with “some” fruit juice in it can be called a fruit drink. An 8 oz glass of orange juice (112 cal) has eight teaspoons of sugar. An 8 oz. can of soda (97 cal) has 10 teaspoons.
• Regular bacon. A breakfast favorite. You’re basically eating fried fat and salt. Two slices are around 120 cal, 10 grams of fat (3g saturated).
• Chocolate-covered donuts. Trans fat + sugar + calories = a recipe for unhealthy eating. Now add chocolate. 1 doughnut will cost you 300 cal, 19g fat (6g saturated).
• Sour cream and onion chips. If you’re not careful with this snack you could end up eating the entire bag. That’s a lot of sodium, fat, and empty calories. For 150 cal, 10 g fat (3g saturated) and 210 mg sodium, you can eat 12 chips.
• Mozzarella sticks…aka fat fried in fat. Four pieces equals 430 cal, 23g fat (10g saturated) and 1370 mg.

• What Can You Do?

  • 11 facts about healthy living.
  • Background on organic living.
  • Create a healthy living cookbook for your friends and family.