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Well Done Massachusetts! New Regulations for Healthy School Food

July 17th, 2011 Leave a comment Go to comments
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the first to enact nutrition guidelines for “competitive foods” in schools on a statewide level. Kudos!

“Competitive foods” are NOT the federally subsidized foods served during  breakfast or lunch. Rather they are items sold in vending machines, a la carte in the cafeteria, concession stands at sports events, or as part of fundraising activities.

Last week, the state’s Public Health Council passed new regulations that will go into effect in the 2012-2013 school year.

The guidelines require snacks to stand up to:

  • Up to 200 calories per item.
  • Less than 35% of calories from fat.
  • Less than 20% of calories from saturated fat.
  • Less than 30% of calories from sugars.
  • No fried foods.
  • No sugary drinks.
  • No artificial sweeteners.

Exceptions: Fruit and low-fat yogurt.

By the 2013-2014 school year, schools will be also be required to provide nutritional information of unpackaged snacks and foods.

This piece of news is encouraging and another small victory in the war on obesity. Coupled with nutrition education and basic cooking classes for all kids, perhaps the next generation will be redeemed?

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  • http://www.thelunchtray.com Bettina at The Lunch Tray

    I hate to rain on this parade and I laud any district or state that is improving its a la carte offerings, which are notoriously the worst in the lunch room.  But keep in mind that items like Baked Flaming Hot Cheetos meet all of these criteria (http://www.fritolay.com/our-snacks/baked-cheetos-flamin-hot.html), as do lots of other “doctored” junk foods.  Yet most of us don’t want our kids to be making a meal out of those, as many kids actually do (it’s not uncommon to see kids grab chips and a slushie from the a la carte line and call it lunch).  This development is certainly a big step in the right direction, but I think we can do better.  I’ll be writing about this issue in depth on The Lunch Tray in the coming days.

  • Dana Woldow

    The so-called “better for you” snacks like baked chips are only “better for you” in the sense that it is “better for you” to only be hit in the head with a brick twice instead of 3 times.

  • Milohyellow

    Better than nothing….gotta start somewhere.

    • http://www.thelunchtray.com Bettina at The Lunch Tray

      Milohyellow:  I don’t want to sound unsupportive of this move, which is only positive.  But I did want to point out that, if a district wants to, it can still sell some pretty junky food under these standards.   The key, of course, is getting a district to use these rules toward their what I assume is their intended end – more fresh, whole, nutrient-rich food made available to school kids.

  • http://www.basicbento.com MH

    But they are still allowing artificial colors and flavors and HFCS? It doesn’t go far enough… but it’s a step.

  • http://www.thelunchtray.com Bettina at The Lunch Tray

    Here’s the promised Lunch Tray post on this development in MA:  http://www.thelunchtray.com/do-the-new-massachusetts-competitive-food-rules-go-far-enough/

  • Jennifer

    Great step forward, Massachusetts!  But Rhode Island has actually had a statewide law for competitive foods in place here for several years now.  It takes an entire community – school personnel, cafeteria staff, parents, teachers, students – to help make it work!  Our statewide nonprofit Kids First has been a tremendous resource for the education and collaboration with our statewide laws (we also have one that regulates the meals themselves).  See the Kids First website for more details – http://www.kidsfirstri.org.

  • http://tiny.cc/jaclyncoy Jaclyn C, Teacher

    I do think it’s a shame that so many “crap” foods still meet this criteria, but it is a step.  As children we weren’t perfect eaters, and I don’t think that is the necessary goal.  Exposing kids to good tasting, healthy foods and encouraging better portion control of the unhealthy stuff, is a better life-long eating plan.  I think Massachusetts current plan begins to aid in the portion control factor, and when they have to eventually post the nutritional info about the unpackaged foods they serve in 2013, they hopefully will begin to address and incorporate the “good tasting, healthy foods” factor.  Thanks for making a start.

  • J. Oliver

    Or kids could just bring junk food to school.