US School Cafeterias Going Healthy

Filed in archive News , Trends on February 3, 2006

Aha! It seems school children will finally eat better snacks and lunches.

Two news features made me smile this morning. One is for banning sodas and other junk food in school vending machines and cafeterias and a similar campaign by a nutritionist in Idaho.

The first article, although more political than culinary, is an example in coordinating towards the right direction. Connecticut Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell and Senate President Pro Tempore Donald E. Williams Jr., D-Brooklyn have announced a bill that "mandates the soda ban and encourages other changes by tripling the current nickel-per-meal school lunch subsidy for districts that adhere to new state nutrition standards." It is amazing in how it dares to impose a complete ban on soda from high school, middle school and elementary school. If the bill becomes a law, Connecticut would be the first state to ban soda from all public schools.

Easily said than done, they'll say in Idaho. Stephanie Rose and Tracie Miller are out to rid Idaho Falls High School of junk food. The former, a nutritionist, and the latter, a mother and member of the school board, are facing a challenge that pits healthy eating against the freedom of choice. They are hoping to find support from other Idaho Falls citizens in what they think will "sort out the school districts who care about their kids from the ones who don't." On a positive note, Idaho Falls district wellness committee proposes a ban on sales of candy in the lunchroom and limiting the size of sodas sold in vending machines. A small initiative towards bigger steps in the future, I hope.

Isn't this reminiscent of Jamie Oliver's school dinners project? Kitchen Geek wrote about a show where the Naked Chef found it difficult to convince schoolchildren to eat healthy.

But then again, the Feed Me Better campaign is such a success the Prime Minister took action over school meals. Just for starting the campaign, don't you just have a big crush on Jamie Oliver? Ok, ok, I have a big crush on him!