Schools in the U.S. to lead the way in healthy eating

It was concern regarding the increasing obesity, especially amongst young people, which prompted Congress to ask the Institute of Medicine to develop a set of standards for foods that should be on sale in schools.

The Institute's response proposes nutritional standards which are in fact more restrictive than current government rules for foods and drinks sold outside regular meal programs in cafeterias, vending machines and school stores in elementary, middle and high schools.

The Institute's 15-member panel led by Dr. Virginia Stallings of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, has come with a two-tiered system which aims to encourage youngsters to eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains and to avoid added sugars, salt and saturated fats.

The panel say their recommendation applies not only to children but also suggests Parent Teacher Associations apply the same standards to food items sold at school fundraisers.

Foods sold in school cafeterias are already required to meet nutritional standards which do not apply to lunches that students bring from home.

Congress will now consider the recommendations but putting them into practice will involve federal, state or local laws and school standards and policies.

Foods listed as Tier 1 would be allowed at all grade levels during the school day and during after-school activities and include snacks such as whole fruit, raisins, carrot sticks, whole-grain low-sugar cereals, some multigrain tortilla chips, some granola bars and nonfat yogurt with no more than 30 grams of added sugars.

Suggested entrees include fruit salad with yogurt or a turkey sandwich; beverages would be restricted to plain water, skim or 1 percent milk, soy beverages and 100 percent fruit or vegetable juice.

Tier 2 foods would be available only to high school students and only after school hours and include single servings of baked potato chips, low-sodium whole wheat crackers, graham crackers, pretzels, caffeine-free diet soda and seltzer water.

Sports drinks would only be available to students engaged in an hour or more of vigorous athletic activity, at the discretion of coaches.

The recommendations mean most potato and corn chips, candies, cheese curls,cakes, sports drinks, sugary sodas and iced teas and punches made with minimal fruit juice would be banned.

The panel also opposed all caffeinated products because of the possible harmful effects such as headaches and moodiness.

The Institute of Medicine is an independent organization chartered by Congress to advise the government on scientific matters.