- Why should we
legislate the foods sold in schools ?
- Does this
bill take vending machines out of schools ?
- Will this bill
cost school systems money ?
- Does this bill
address foods and beverages that are not sold in vending machines ?
- What about
items students bring in from home or that are given by teachers to a class?
- I have heard
that a wide array of groups support this legislation. Who are they?
Unfortunately, Tennessee children are suffering.
On
average, 45% of students in Loudon County Schools are overweight or obese.
Tennessee ranks 6th in the nation for obesity and has one of the highest rates
for Type 2 diabetes among school age children.
The
state needed to have a uniform policy to address this critical situation.
Nutrition in school is an important place to start. The General Assembly chose
to address the epidemic of childhood obesity by passing laws in 2005 addressing
foods sold in schools and in 2006 concerning required hours of structured
physical activity per week in schools.
Of
course, local School boards may choose to enact stricter rules.
No
It requires rules to
be made that set nutritional standards for the foods that are sold in vending
machines and as individual items through the cafeteria programs for students
pre-K through eighth grade.
No
Based on outcomes in
schools and school systems that have switched to healthy items in vending
machines, difference in amount of money made is minimal. Most studies show a
slight increase in profits made. Now that competitive bids will be
required, the profits should be even higher.
Yes
The Tennessee School Food Services Association
volunteered to apply the same standards to individual/a la carte items sold by
the cafeteria as those sold in vending machines. Rather than feeling
attacked by this legislation, cafeterias decided to jump in and do what they can
to make a difference in the health of children.
The rules and
regulations under which school cafeteria programs provide meals is highly
regulated by the federal government, through the USDA.
Cafeterias have stringent rules and regulations with which they must
comply to receive federal reimbursement for the free and reduced meal program.
They must meet minimum nutrition standards regarding fat content, other
nutritional content, portion size, components of a balanced meal, and many other
requirements. For example, when pizza is served, it meets requirements
regarding dairy content, meat content, vegetable content, etc. Often when
younger children are served French fries, the fries are baked, rather than
fried. Nutrition standards are met and done so while providing meals at a
very low cost.
The law only
addresses individual items sold to students. This bill does not
prohibit items brought from home or given to students by teachers.
Individual schools or systems, may have policies or procedures that limit food
items brought from home, given by teachers or provided at parties to those foods
that meet the vending law.
We
know that students will learn by the example set by their teachers and their
parents
.
It is important to set a healthy model, rather than expecting children to
“do as we say, not as we do.” Parents and teachers should review the
foods they have traditionally provided to children at parties and other
school events and consider healthier alterantives. The following web page has
some creative ideas about healthier foods for parties. Check for other ideas on
the Links provided on the CSH home page
http://www.karenyontzcenter.org/kidzbeat/default.asp
.
Given the high rate
of obesity in our students, it is inadvisable to give candy or food as a
reward or use physical activity as punishment.
Many of the following
groups had input in the crafting of this legislation.
Some of the groups
supporting this legislation are the
·
Tennessee Medical Association,
·
Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation,
·
Rural
Health Association of Tennessee,
·
Tennessee Dietetic Association,
·
Children’s Hospital Alliance of Tennessee
·
Tennessee School Food Services Association,
·
Tennessee Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics,
·
Tennessee Chapter of the Academy of Family Physicians,
·
Tennessee School Health Coalition,
·
Tennessee Nurses Association,
·
Tennessee Association of School Nurses,
·
American
Heart Association,
·
Tennessee Dental Association,
·
Tennessee Dental Hygienists Association,
·
Tennessee Association of Physical Health Education and Recreational Dance.
Coordinated School Health
Loudon County Schools.
Revised: 09/13/06.