By Jennifer Aaby
Enterprise writer
Students in the Edmonds School District may have fewer bottles of pop available to purchase in the fall.
The Edmonds School Board will vote at its Aug. 9 meeting on a nutrition policy that would change several food and beverage options.
If approved, this policy change will affect a la carte items, vending machine options, on-site fund-raisers, associated student body sales and student-store fare (all of which fall into the “competitive foods” category, or foods that compete with meal programs). Regular school meals will not be affected as they will continue to meet the standards in place, said Barb Lloyd, the district’s director of food service.
The amount of pop and high-sugar, high-fat snacks will likely decrease dramatically, leaving students with more healthy option such as 100 percent fruit juice, water and granola bars, dried fruit and other healthier options.
Lloyd led a districtwide nutrition task force in the spring that discussed ways to improve students’ options when it comes to eating food offered at schools.
This proposal comes in the wake of a state Senate bill signed in March 2004, which requires schools to update their nutrition standards by this August, Lloyd said.
The task force’s proposed policy, which was presented to the school board on July 5, is focused on educating and encouraging students to make healthy choices, while not eliminating unhealthy foods, Lloyd said.
Marla Miller, the executive director for business and operations for the district, also spoke to the board July 5.
“Kids need to have information but also learn how to exercise choice,” Miller said.
Thus, the task force decided to implement a 70-30 guideline. A total of 70 percent of the competitive foods must meet the new standards the task force proposes. The remaining 30 percent do not have to meet the standards, but must contain some nutritional value, Lloyd said.
This allows students the option to decide for themselves what they will be eating, she said.
To fall into the 70-percent category, food must:
• Have a total fat content less than or equal to 30 percent of total calories per serving (not including seeds and nuts);
• Have a saturated fat content less than or equal to 10 percent of the total calories per serving;
• Have a sugar content less than or equal to 15 grams per serving (with some exceptions to fruit, juices and vegetables).
It is also recommended that beverages do not contain caffeine, and portion sizes will also be monitored carefully.
At the district’s high schools, competitive foods can be sold during breakfast and lunch, but not in areas where meals are served or students eat, Lloyd said. However at middle and elementary schools, competitive foods will not be available at all during breakfast or lunch.
A number of surrounding school districts have previously created and implemented nutrition policy changes, and Edmonds was able to learn from their experiences, Lloyd said.
In Everett, associated student bodies saw a drop in revenue, because they generally depend on vending machine sales when they create their budgets for student clubs and activities.
The committee was concerned that this would be the case in Edmonds schools, so it took that into consideration when deciding on the 70-30 ratio, Lloyd said.
She said if a drop in revenues affects ASBs, the policy can be revisited.
Mountlake Terrace High School’s activities director Kim Stewart said this was something he really pushed for.
“My biggest fear in all of this is not being able to support these kids,” Stewart said. “But I really feel safe with the 70-30. We can survive at 70-30.”
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