| District throws out fatty snacks (2/03) | | Print | |
| Wednesday, 22 October 2003 | |
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The Board of Education's Jan.14 resolution will apply to the cafeteria, the beanery and all campus vending machines. "We've been heading towards this direction for a couple of years now," Board of Education president Jill Wynns said. "A few years ago, we passed the Commercial-Free Schools Act, which meant that schools had to start providing students with healthier food alternatives. The reason for this is self-evident — we want kids to have a healthier and brighter future. All research shows that healthy foods and drinks make students less hungry and thirsty, and help them do better in school after lunch." Despite the positive intentions of these changes, many students disagree with the ban. "I don't think it's a good idea, because we should be able to eat whatever we want," sophomore Richard Wu said. Junior Nick Lazaro agrees. "I don't think this is a good idea," he said. "Kids should be able to get whatever they want or afford. What if someone only had 75 cents? He should be able to get a candy bar for energy. It's just a bad idea." Student representatives from Lowell, Lincoln, Wallenberg and Washington will contest a clause of the resolution that bans student-run organizations from selling unhealthy foods, according to Student Body Council president Whitnie Low. "The problem with the committee is that we're not sure what foods they're going to consider unhealthy," Low said. Other students applaud the new policy as a long needed change. "I think it's a good idea," freshman Megan Cleary said. "Some kids in San Francisco are obese. Parents can control what kids eat at home, but many kids are snacking on candy bars at school. Now, students can't eat unhealthy foods at school either." Aptos Middle School implemented a similar nutrition policy last month, replacing fatty foods in the beanery with nutritious alternatives, according to Wynns. "The program's been going great," Aptos principal Linal Ishibishi said. "When I got here in July 2002, I was shocked by all the kids who lunched on chips and sodas. So I decided we needed a change." Ishibishi presented the plan to faculty, parents and students and then wrote a proposal to the Board of Education. Board members who were already planning to pass a similar resolution, supported the idea. "We've noticed less garbage and fighting during lunch, and students are calmer in the afternoon," Ishibishi said. "The number of students on the honor roll has also gone up." Despite concerns that the school would lose revenue from food sales, profits have actually increased after the nutritional change, according to Ishibishi. "I think the students really stepped up," Ishibishi said. "Instead of buying a bag of chips and a soda, they're now buying juice and a deli sandwich. Everybody's just been adjusting well to these changes." Physical education teacher John Dohue said, "replacements for the vending machines will be more fruit drinks, Snapple and fruit." Share this article:           |
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