| Focus on health guiding cafeterias
Most students officially arrived back in the classrooms this week.
That also means back to eating school lunches.
As childhood obesity becomes an issue in more families with more children plagued by health problems due to being overweight, many school districts have taken a better look at not only the food options they give students passing through the lunch line, but also how they prepare those options.
Gone are the deep fryers and soda vending machines for many.
�In every area, healthy options are incorporated,� said Beth Hufnagel, director of food services for the Loyalsock Township School District. �We still give kids what they want, but in healthier ways.�
Hufnagel said the district is in the second year of its three-year wellness plan, a state-mandated plan all school districts must complete to participate in the National School Lunch Program, which Loyalsock does.
Lawmakers to push legislation to curb sale of junk foods
Massachusetts lawmakers will resume efforts this fall to crack down on certain junk foods in schools, empowered by a new congressional report that sets standards for school nutrition. In one measure, they will debate whether to restrict schools from selling certain junk foods, and, in a second measure, they are proposing a ban on all corporate advertisements, including those that pitch unhealthy foods and soft drinks. The junk food bill would require schools to offer a healthier selection of foods, such as items with zero trans-fats and less than 200 calories per portion. Students would still have access to vending machines, but during the school day their lunchrooms would replace snacks like fried potato chips and whole milk with baked chips and low-fat milk and offer dried fruit, nuts, and caffeine-free beverages.
Panel for ban on junk food in schools
NEW DELHI: Taking a serious view of increasing obesity among children, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has asked state governments to ban junk food and carbonated drinks in schools.
The Commission has issued guidelines to all states to give directions to schools, both state-run and private, to ensure that no junk food or carbonated drinks are served in their canteens.
It has also asked state governments to prepare nutritional standards for children and to tell schools to serve food according to these norms.
"The food should be freshly prepared and be in keeping with local tastes and preferences," said Commission Member Sandhya Bajaj.
She said the Commission has recommended that a special tax be imposed on junk food, and that carbonated drinks be replaced with healthy beverages like milk and fruit juices.
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