Nutritional thumbs down

I was excited and impressed reading about the plans for a new children's hospital ("Chicago Journal," February/01) until I got to "...and a McDonald's in the food court." This decision signifies a complete lack of insight about the nutritional needs of children. It condones the over-feeding and under-nourishing culture in our country, which will be shown to have a profoundly detrimental effect on our society.

An institution like the University of Chicago has a responsibility to lead the way toward a new health paradigm and not blindly follow the old.

Walther W. Meyer, MD'47
Medford, Wisconsin

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According to a Medical Center spokesperson, it's now unlikely that there will be a McDonald's in the food court of the new pediatric hospital. The overwhelming emphasis will be on healthful food choices, but there will also be fast-food offerings for the convenience of families and visitors and to offer children who prefer such items occasional access to foods that are familiar to them.-Ed.

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