Research on Tap discusses “Fries with that? Are school nutrition policies the solution to childhood obesity?” The kids are overweight because of hot dogs and garlic fingers at school? What about triple-stacked burgers at fast food restaurants? Rink fries.....? Let’s face it: the kids have an obesity problem, and their eating habits are a big part of the problem. Let’s talk about it at UPEI’s next Research on Tap. The discussion starts at 7 p.m., April 6th in the bar at Mavor’s in the Confederation Centre of the Arts. “I think schools do have a role to play to help promote healthier eating,” argues Dr. Jennifer Taylor, associate professor of Family and Nutritional Sciences at UPEI. “But then again, so do parents. So do communities. So does government. So does the food industry.” Taylor will discuss nutrition policies in Island schools, including ones that categorize food based on their nutritional value. “There is controversy as to whether we should be labelling a particular food as good or bad, and where the focus should be to reduce childhood obesity" says Taylor. “I think we need to take a step back and look at the environments where our children eat play and learn.” Research on Tap is a series of public discussions with UPEI’s researchers in a comfortable environment. Every month of the winter, we bring a UPEI researcher to a local pub—in this case, Mavor’s—to discuss his or her area of expertise. For more information, call (902)620-5117, or e-mail datkinson@upei.ca Research on Tap is presented by UPEI’s Office of Research Development.