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I think this is fabulous and exactly what needs to be done:
A new Institute of Medicine report, prepared by a panel of food and nutrition experts, outlines what schools should offer in vending machines, stores, a la carte lines and at fundraising events. The report divides foods into two tiers:
• Tier 1 products
could be offered to all school children in elementary through high school during the regular school day and after-school activities.
Foods should provide at least one serving of a fruit, vegetable, whole grain or non-fat or low-fat dairy product. Foods should contain no more than 35% of total calories from fat, no trans fat and no more than 35% of calories from total sugars. Snacks would contain no more than 200 calories per packaged portion.
Some foods that meet the criteria: Apples, fruit cups, raisins, dried fruit, baby carrots, whole-grain low-sugar cereals, some multi-grain tortilla chips, some granola bars, non-fat, low-fat yogurt with no more than 30 grams of added sugars per 8 ounces, fruit salad with yogurt, turkey sandwich.
Beverages that meet the criteria: Water, skim or 1% milk, soy beverages, 100% fruit or vegetable juice. Because juice is high in calories, it should be limited to 4-ounce servings for elementary and middle school; 8-ounce servings for high school students. Free water — either tap or bottled — should be made available.
Beverages that don’t meet the criteria: Sugary soft drinks, sports drinks, sugary juice drinks.
• Tier 2 products
would only be available to high school students after school. These products do not necessarily contain a serving of vegetables, fruits, whole grains or low-fat, non-fat dairy but must meet the same basic requirements on fat, sugar and other criteria as tier 1 items.
Foods that meet the criteria: Single servings of baked potato chips, low-sodium whole-wheat crackers and pretzels, graham crackers, animal crackers, caffeine-free diet soda and seltzer water.
Sports drinks should not be accessible during the school day because of high sugar content. These drinks can be made available at discretion of coaches to athletes who do vigorous activity for more than an hour.
Elementary and middle school organizations only should offer tier 1 products at fundraisers and parties during the school day. High school organizations could offer tier 1 and tier 2.
Source: USAtoday
