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Overheard on CNN.com: Doughnut lovers' lament, washed down with a giant soda
A selection of sweets from Sublime Doughnuts in Atlanta, Georgia.
June 1st, 2012
08:56 PM ET

Overheard on CNN.com: Doughnut lovers' lament, washed down with a giant soda

Editor's note: This post is part of the Overheard on CNN.com series, a regular feature that examines interesting comments and thought-provoking conversations posted by the community.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has been talking about a proposal to ban selling sodas and sugary drinks larger than 16 ounces at restaurants and food carts. This move generated a huge amount of conversation from our readers, and we highlighted a selection of comments on the CNN Mash-up.

New York City seeks to ban big sodas from restaurants, food carts
Big Gulp? Meet Big Brother

Friday happens to be National Doughnut Day, and a few readers are tying the soda and pastry issues together.

omegaworks: "Didn't he (Bloomberg) just cut the doughnut this morning for National Doughnut Day? National Doughnut Day... we can't drink soda, but we can celebrate National Doughnut Day ... I guess doughnuts aren't fattening."

Bloomberg's signature is on a proclamation declaring June 1, 2012, to be "NYC Donut Day" in honor of the 75th year of this tradition, which honors dessert-serving Salvation Army volunteers during World War I. The proclamation is posted on a New York Times blog.

A special gift, then? (Krispy Kreme is also marking its 75th birthday this year.)

Top_News: "National doughnut day? I think I'll send 2 dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts to NYC Mayor Bloomberg just for the heck of it. LOL"

And, for that matter ...

Jeff: "How am I supposed to wash down my 12-inch doughnut with this piddly little 16 ounce drink?"

The most-liked comment from the "Big Gulp" piece suggested giving the proverbial sibling something to do. Others said they think obesity is becoming too big a problem.

Rosemary Sterner: "Maybe if Big Brother would bring back physical education and recess to schools, half the problem would be solved."

Jeremy Iverson: "I hate the government telling me what I can/can't do, but Americans are SOO fat. It's hard not to support this on some level if for nothing else than the message it sends."

Many readers talked about the American diet. This reader says Bloomberg should focus on knowledge.

scnn1a: "Wouldn't it be better if Bloomberg tried to educate people on why to avoid sugary drinks? It seems to me that if people are ignorant they'll just get hooked on to another bad habit! Then doughnut shops will do more business."

This person says there's something to be said for Bloomberg's ideas.

amirite: "I'm so sick and tired of having to pick from supersaturated corn syrupy nasty drinks with my meal. There are some sodas that have half the calories of what's in Pepsi and Coke products and they taste BETTER than the nasty supersweet crap. I want a drink, not a birthday cake in my soda. Others are right, the soda sizes have gone crazy. Drinking a large drink like those banned is like eating a dozen of doughnuts instead of a couple, or eating a whole chicken instead of a serving. Big drinks do make you fat."

New York and California, in the crosshairs.

ThisGADude: "NYC's biggest problem isn't soda. It's a mental deficiency that tends to make one believe you know everything regardless of how ridiculous you sound. The symptoms are prevalent in California, too."

Heck yes, America.

jlerari11: "Bloomberg really doesn't get America. The fact that you can buy a 64 ounce Super Gulp for 99 cents makes it the greatest country on Earth. If you want to dictate our food portions, go govern China or Cuba. Besides, we are not fat because of the availability of large soft drinks. We are fat because so many of us just quit moving. We sit behind a computer for 8 hours and then behind the TV for another 4. What would you expect your body to look like? Do you think a 12 ounce Diet Coke is going to fix that?"

iReporter Sean Cochran of Joliet, Illinois, said in a video post that he actually would support a sugary drinks rule in his town.

“I just feel that we (Americans) find every excuse not to lose weight or get in shape. Yet we always complain that we are too fat or that we need to diet. The first time someone tries to make us do something healthy, all we do is complain. I would welcome the change in Illinois.”

Many looked to the future. Could other kinds of, um, dietary changes be on the horizon?

Halley DeVestern: "Yeah, this is silly. You might as well ban all 'unhealthy' food and beverages in NYC. No more Scotch, bacon, beer, vodka, fettuccine Alfredo, coffee, pate de fois gras, ice cream, cheese, filet mignon, dougnuts, etc. We'll be livin' on Soylent Green next ..."

For everyone else, there's this dining option.

Didelphis325: "I'd love to start a restaurant down here in GA and call it 'Banned in NYC.' Our menu would consist only of items that were deep-fried, pan-fried, chicken-fried or barbecued. Vegetables would include fried okra, fried mushrooms, fried onion rings, fried green tomatoes, french fries or fried corn. Beverages would all be larger than 16 ounces. Although we could not allow smoking, we would have spittoons for those who cared to chew. Every chair would have a picture of Bloomberg on the seat. I consider myself a liberal but this guy is something else."

What's your take? Share your opinion, or just your doughnuts, in the comments area below and in the latest stories on CNN.com. Or sound off on video via CNN iReport.

Compiled by the CNN.com moderation staff. Some comments edited for length or clarity.

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Filed under: Food • New York • Overheard on CNN.com • Politics
soundoff (91 Responses)
  1. dazzle ©

    I believe all this nonsense about policing sugar is just fueling the Bloomberg PR machine. Is there a cabinet position in his future? He's been both a Repub and a Dem and I am quite sure that now he is an Independent. Politicos feel free to correct me if I am wrong on his political stance

    June 2, 2012 at 7:07 pm | Report abuse | Reply
    • banasy©

      @dazzle:
      Bloomberg will run with whatever party will get him elected.
      Reagan did the same thing in Cali.

      June 2, 2012 at 7:27 pm | Report abuse |
  2. bobcat (in a hat)©

    Good evening everyone. Is it any quieter in here tonite ? Last nite it got totally out of hand with the trolls. I said the heck with it.

    June 2, 2012 at 7:43 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  3. banasy©

    (Rolls eyes)

    June 2, 2012 at 7:49 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  4. bobcat (in a hat)©

    @ dazzle ©

    I do hope this is really you. Last night got too much for me and I left the boards. I didn't see that hurtful statement until this afternoon. I feel bad that I wasn't there to get your back on that one.

    June 2, 2012 at 8:26 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  5. dazzle ©

    @bobcat (in a hat)© No worries I that and yes it is the real me. @kenny, thank you.

    June 2, 2012 at 8:34 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  6. bobcat (in a hat)©

    Thank you Kenny. Those words are appreciated.

    June 2, 2012 at 8:41 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  7. banasy©

    @Kenny:
    Can you answer this?
    Are you the same jacker that talkes about the hot cocoa?
    That, personally, was my favorite one.

    June 2, 2012 at 8:46 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  8. banasy©

    Well, crud, Kenny's gone.
    I wanna know....

    June 2, 2012 at 8:49 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  9. dazzle ©

    @Kenny, I know you didn't post that but I don't recognize you without the last name. It was posted by the real person.

    June 2, 2012 at 8:54 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  10. bobcat (in a hat)©

    I see the delete patrol is back in full swing tonite doing what they do best. Deleting the wrong comments.

    June 2, 2012 at 9:25 pm | Report abuse | Reply
    • banasy©

      Oh, you mean where they delete the real person answering the jacker? Yeah, I love that trick, too, Rawr.

      June 2, 2012 at 9:42 pm | Report abuse |
    • bobcat (in a hat)©

      I see our soothsayer has returned.

      June 2, 2012 at 9:48 pm | Report abuse |
  11. banasy©

    @Kenny Rogers:
    Lol. Back atcha!
    The marshallows do melt too fast....

    June 2, 2012 at 9:36 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  12. banasy©

    That's probably a good guess, as there's earthquakes all the time there...Nostadamas...lol!

    June 2, 2012 at 9:46 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  13. bobcat (in a hat)©

    I see in the not so distant future that you will be proven either right or wrong.

    June 2, 2012 at 9:52 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  14. dazzle ©

    Lol to the real @bobcat (in a hat)©!!

    June 2, 2012 at 10:00 pm | Report abuse | Reply
    • bobcat (in a hat)©

      @ dazzle ©

      I just remembered I forgot to put jokes up today. That's okay, I'll just double up in the morning.

      June 2, 2012 at 10:18 pm | Report abuse |
  15. bobcat (in a hat)©

    Not to mention the Kentuckians and the Tennesseeans too.

    June 2, 2012 at 10:13 pm | Report abuse | Reply
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