Vitamin M

Photo via Google Images

This morning, while I waited for someone to come replace by garbage disposal a few friends pinged me to turn on the Today Show.  The show was talking about a tried-tactic to childhood obesity that is failing at a high school in Seattle. Check it out below.

At Roosevelt High School, there’s not much action at the second floor vending machines with milk, juice and granola bars.

The better lunch time business is across the street at the QFC. Looking for less healthy lunch options, students make the quick walk to the grocery store for donuts, chips, soda pop and a hot meal – popcorn chicken.

Vending machine profits go to student governments or their athletic uniforms, clubs, dances and yearbooks. Since the district went healthy, vending profits are down.
In 2001, students got $214,000 from vending machine profits. This year with healthy food – only $17.000.

“We don’t want to bring junk food in, but we do want to bring in foods that students do like,” said senior Rhys Berkwitt.

Now the Seattle School Board is considering relaxing its ban on unhealthy foods, perhaps allowing more sugar, more fat.

“We may have gone a little too far, too prescriptive in what our policy is saying,” said Seattle School Board Member Michael Debell.

Many students say they avoid the vending machines not because of the food choices but because of the prices.

Seattle Schools are trying to find balance to get healthy kids and a healthy profit.

The School Board will likely revise its policy next spring, to take effect next school year.

I am left wondering what the “junk” that was taken out of the machines.  I think in this case the school officials thought that by changing the environment, and removing unhealthy foods, it would see healthy kids and a healthy profit.  However it isn’t working.  If this doesn’t fix it, what is the next thing to try?  Are there other models around the country that are working to promote healthy eating without an expense to schools?  With the changes to schools meals anticipated out any day now and the first ever competitive foods rule forthcoming, will these improve diets or cause kids to leave schools for less healthy options, like the Seattle school is reporting.

From my perspective I think its going to take a team of folks to revamp school menus and snacks.  For example:

Can teachers share tactics with dietitians to help promote nutrition education that works?

Can the dietitians interpret the rule and the dietary guidelines to determine what kids need?

Can the chefs and foodservice professionals come up with healthy recipes that include the nutrients the dietitians are saying kids need?

Can kids tell the chefs what they like and if they will actually eat it?

Can the procurement folks source fresher and reformulated items that farmers and the food industry are working to provide?

Can the farmers and food industry, already strapped in this economy, sell their products at a profit to schools?

And the list goes on and on and every school and school district is different so the challenge is high.  However, I think we do need to find ways to provide kids with nutrient rich foods that taste good in order to avoid at patchwork of situations around the country that mimic Roosevelt High School.