Eating healthy happens at home and at school.
Many schools are undergoing changes in their cafeterias in order to provide children with healthier and more affordable options for meals. Chili cheese fries, greasy pizza and overloaded tacos are being swapped out for whole wheat pizza, salads and sandwiches. Schools recognize that low-income families cannot always afford to properly feed their children. The Polk County, Florida, school district has implemented several requirements and plans in order to pave the way for healthy and affordable eating options in their districts' cafeterias.
Prices
Set prices ensure that students can afford lunch. Students belonging to families who fall into certain income brackets are eligible for either reduced prices or free lunches. Reduced prices are 30 cents for breakfast, 40 cents for lunch and 15 cents for an after-school snack. Regular prices are $1 for breakfast, $1.70 for an elementary school lunch, $2 for a secondary school lunch and 70 cents for an after-school snack.
Allergies
The school works to create special provisions to ensure that children with allergies are accommodated. A common food allergy, peanut butter, is frequently on the sandwich menu; therefore, parents, teachers and students must be extra vigilant when an allergic child is present. The United States Department of Agriculture says that the schools must provide additional options for students who cannot eat the regular menu because of disabilities or other medical conditions that prevent them from eating the foods.
Requirements for Meals
On June 27, 2006, the Polk County School District implemented a new program in accordance with the United States Dietary Guidelines for Americans. All of the items that appear on the district's a la carte menus follow certain guidelines. Fats do not exceed 20 to 35 percent of total calories, saturated fat is limited to 10 percent of total calories, sugar does not exceed 35 percent of the weight of the food, and efforts are made to control salt.
Requirements for Vending Machines
The school district has new standards for vending machines. The vending machines will no longer include soda, but will instead by replaced by 100 percent juice and water. Some high schools are planning to use the Health Cow Milk Vending program. Furthermore, vending machines that sell snacks will experience a makeover. The snacks will have to meet the same requirements as the a la carte meal items.
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