September 2004

September is already here! Many children throughout the United States (US) have already started school and, within the next week or two, the rest will follow. You know the clothes they will wear and the classes they will take, but do you know what they'll be eating for lunch?

According to the American Public Health Association, children consume 35 to 40 percent of their daily calories in school. This accounts for one-third to almost one-half of their daily food intake. The source of these calories can make a considerable difference in the way your children learn, act, and feel. And, of course, their total daily caloric intake will determine if they are at a healthy weight or not.

School lunches must follow guidelines put forth by the U.S. government. These recommendations are set by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the form of The Dietary Guidelines for Americans and The Food Guide Pyramid. This is a great place to start; however, there seems to be a growing concern that school lunch programs need some revision.

There are vending machines in school cafeterias across the country, in addition to fast food options in some areas. These choices make it easy for students to fill up on empty calories. Some states have adopted laws (and many others are considering legislation) to change the face of school lunches. For example, in June 2003, Texas created a nutrition policy for public schools. As part of this policy, portion sizes are limited and all deep fryers will be phased out by 2007. New York passed a bill in June of this year that limits what can be sold in school vending machines.

A sterling example of a school system that is committed to making changes is Appleton, Wisconsin. It started in 1997 when a private group began a healthy school lunch program in one of the town's alternative schools. No more fast food or vending machines. The outcome? Student behavior improved, grades went up, and the school's atmosphere was calmer than in the past. Appleton has expanded this concept to include the entire school district. Lunch participation has increased and test scores are going up.