Schwarzenegger Wants Ban on School Junk Food Sales

COLUMBUS, Ohio – At the bodybuilding event named for him, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (search) said Sunday that he wants to ban all sales of junk food in California schools and fill vending machines with fresh fruits, vegetables and milk.

Schwarzenegger's comments came during a question-and-answer session with fans, when a questioner asked how he plans to combat youth obesity.

"First of all, we in California this year are introducing legislation that would ban all the sale of junk food in the schools," Schwarzenegger said.

Aides said later that the governor supports a bill by Democratic state Sen. Martha Escutia (search) that would ban soft drinks at public schools, and that the administration hopes to develop a more comprehensive legislative package dealing with snack foods.

"I wouldn't say we're going to ban all" junk food, Schwarzenegger Chief of Staff Pat Clarey (search) said. "We just are looking at additional bills that will deal with snack food at high schools ... we're looking for healthy snacks."

Topics at the annual question session ranged from fitness to whether he wants to be president if the Constitution is amended to allow foreign-born citizens to run. As in the past, he said he's focused on governing California.

"I'm not saying no I'm not interested in it, but I'm not concentrating on it," he said.

At the men's bodybuilding finals the night before, Schwarzenegger had called on bodybuilding to get rid of steroids. He got one question on the topic Sunday from a sixth-grader.

The girl asked the governor to explain why he's said he doesn't regret his own past steroid use. Schwarzenegger reiterated that at the time he took the drugs they were new to the market and weren't illegal.

People shouldn't take steroids now — "A, they are harmful for the body, and B, they are illegal," he said.

Many of the questions were detailed queries about workout routines. Schwarzenegger discoursed knowledgeably on how best to improve the deltoid muscles — numerous repetitions, tailored to the three separate deltoid muscle groups, front, middle, and back.

Schwarzenegger said doctors banned him from heavy lifting after his heart surgery in 1997, but he still does 30 to 45 minutes of cardio each day and lifts weights about four days a week.

At one point, Schwarzenegger delivered what amounted to a motivational lecture after a questioner betrayed some discouragement about his own fitness potential. Schwarzenegger told him to visualize his goal, never lose sight of the vision and work toward it.

"As you know, I'm a big believer in the mind," Schwarzenegger said. "Just be positive, and kick some butt."