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by Tiffany Capuano
Atlanta-area school children make vital decisions
in the cafeteria line each day – selections such as
beverages, treats, fruits and vegetables. As
parents, we want them to choose healthy, balanced
meals. We know they sometimes don’t.
With obesity on the rise in children, the
American Beverage Association has taken a huge step
in creating new beverage guidelines for schools. In
partnership with the Alliance for a Healthier
Generation, the new guidelines will provide
lower-calorie and nutritious beverages for students.
"The new beverage policy continues the industry’s
commitment to serve parents, who told us they
preferred more control over the beverage choices
their children have while at school," says Susan
Neely, president of the American Beverage
Association.
School sales of regular soda, which averages
about 150 calories per can, have been on the rise
and account for about 45 percent of beverages sold
in schools. Vending machines are a source of revenue
for many schools. However, the nation’s largest
beverage distributors, including Coca-Cola Co. and
PepsiCo Inc., have agreed to stop selling non-diet
soft drinks to public schools. Elementary and middle
school students will only be sold unsweetened juice,
low-fat milk and water. At high schools, diet soft
drinks, juice, sports drinks and low-fat milk will
be offered.
Fulton County hasn’t decided whether to pull the
plug on sodas in schools, however, soft drink
machines in the county’s middle and high schools are
on timers, with access only before and after school
hours. There are no soft drink machines in the
elementary schools, says Susan Hale, a Fulton County
Schools spokesperson.
Parents may have little control over what their
children eat or drink while at school, but it
doesn’t need to be a power struggle, says Beth
Passehl, coordinator for Children’s Healthcare of
Atlanta’s Fit Kids program. "We have room for all
types of foods in our diets. If we are totally
restrictive, it may backfire," says Passehl. "A
child in school may overeat as a result of being
told ‘no.’"
Passehl suggests talking about healthy food
choices at home, without being restrictive, as well
as discussing physical activity and overall
wellness. Exercise and good nutrition go hand in
hand, she adds.
Middle and high school cafeterias in many school
districts are organized much like mall food courts.
With areas for pizza, hot foods and a deli, students
have many choices when it comes to school cafeteria
lunches. Students at this age are also more
influenced by their peers, so when allowed free
range, may opt for slushies or pizza every day
because that’s what their friends are eating.
"We don’t need to overreact as parents. We need
to talk with our children about choices," says
Passehl. "Ask them, ‘Does it really taste that
good?’ They’ll come up with their own conclusions if
we leave them alone." She adds that her own preteen
son chose slushies for four straight days at school
before he realized he didn’t like them.
Gwinnett County’s school district is implementing
Nutri-Café, an online interactive virtual cafeteria
that allows students and parents to learn about meal
choices and promote healthy eating habits. Designed
by Nutri-Link Technologies Inc., Gwinnett County
schools are one of the first to pilot the program.
"It looks at everything on the tray," says Sloane
Roach, spokesperson for Gwinnett County Schools. If
a student chooses barbecue chicken, two sides and
milk, it will tally the calories and nutrition
content.
"It provides better nutritional information of
what a student is eating at school," says Roach. "It
is an additional tool with an emphasis on nutrition,
but it also helps increase communication with
parents. We are always looking for ways to educate."
Mealpay, an online prepayment service used by
Atlanta Public Schools and Cobb and Gwinnett
counties, also gives parents more involvement in
their child’s lunch choices. Parents pay for meals
online by credit card. Funds are added to a
student’s meal account and deducted each day they
purchase meals. Parents can go online and see how
their child is using the money. Through the service,
parents can opt not to allow "extras," such as
Gatorade, ice cream or other treats. By limiting the
enticing snacks, parents may feel more in control of
their child’s health.
"The extras are junk food," says Dawn Benson, a
Cobb County mother of two. "They’ll eat the junk
food, like ice cream, instead of the meal. I want
them to have ‘brain’ food at school."
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Provide extra water. Send two bottles
and freeze them to double as ice packs.