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<p> The eating habits of my middle school students never fail to amaze me. Their habits are downright scary. Someone obviously forgot to tell them breakfast is the most important meal of the day. How else to explain what I see them munching on in the morning after they exit the local 7-11 convenience store? </p>
<p> I often stop at the local 7-11 for an extra cup of coffee before arriving at the parking lot of my school’s campus. The store is located about 100 yards away from the school—a middle school full of first and second generation Mexican-Americans with strong ties to nearby Tijuana and many aspects of Mexican culture. Though I am not the healthiest eater myself (caffeine is just one of my indulgences), I am always amazed to see our students inside the store buying the strangest breakfast fare —hot dogs, cheeseburgers, Polish sausages, sticks of Beef Jerky, Big Gulp-size sodas, candy. Yes, I said breakfast fare!! </p>
<p> Whatever happened to such items as eggs and cereal? I don’t necessarily expect them to eat something as All-American as Wheaties for breakfast. Not even organically grown granola purchased from a Whole Foods market. Just some “normal” breakfast fare. They can’t say this is a Mexican thing. I know for a fact that Polish sausages and beef jerky are not part of any Mexican culinary tradition. </p>
<p> Today, as I enter the 7-11, I spot a student standing outside the door eating a Snickers bar for breakfast. I am tempted to wrestle it away from him, or at least report him to the principal for eating an illegal breakfast substance—one that cannot possibly provide the kind of nourishment needed to sustain a proper level of thinking in my classroom. </p>
<p> Then I think of my own breakfast eating habits. I ate a chocolate chip muffin and drank two cups of coffee this morning. Is this truly acceptable breakfast fare? Maybe—at least according to our society’s Starbucks-driven cultural standards—but a muffin isn’t exactly nutritious. Especially one laden with chocolate chips. Perhaps I am being a bit hypocritical about criticizing kids for their unhealthy morning eating fare.</p>
<p> As I check out at the cash register to pay for my coffee I get in line behind a bunch of construction workers—a diverse group consisting of three Mexicans, an African-American, and a couple of Anglos. They are a rugged lot who look like they just stepped out of a Dodge pick-up truck commercial. I take note of their food. These “Ram Tough” men are buying Big Gulp sodas, bags of potato chips, candy, and hot dogs.</p>
<p> Now I know where the kids get it. They are in effect emulating a segment of our adult society. My students see the morning eating habits of these men as perfectly acceptable.</p>
<p> I suppose this might be considered a good thing. After all, if kids are modeling themselves on the habits of construction workers—those quintessential symbols of the American work force—then perhaps they are indeed assimilating into our culture. Isn’t that what we all want? Isn’t that what conservatives have been screaming about? One can easily say there is nothing more All-American than a hot dog; this dish that conjures up patriotic images of Coney Island amusement park, 4th of July picnics, and baseball games. Who are we to say this dish must be limited to lunch or dinner? It seems these students are merely taking this American tradition to new and different levels.</p>
<p> If such is the case, then maybe making English the official language of the U.S. is not what social conservatives should be pursuing. Instead, they should set their sights on the less grand objective of recognizing immigrant children breakfast eating habits, such as the ones mentioned in this article, as notable markers on the road to assimilation—a road best driven in Dodge pick-up trucks. Of course, there will be a price to pay—a higher incidence of childhood obesity and diabetes for starters—but we will be united in our physical health distress. Then we can all together to tackle a relevant issue like national health care insurance. </p>
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<p><em>Steve Rodriguez, </em><a href="mailto:srodriguez2@san.rr.com"><em>srodriguez2@san.rr.com</em></a></p>