What you can do: Change school food and sports policies

What can you do?

Do you know what kind of food your local school sells to its students? If it doesn't restrict junk food and drinks, you can lobby local school officials and state legislators to ban foods that don't meet minimum nutritional standards. While kids may enjoy fast food, soda, and snacks, you can't conclude that they don't like alternatives to healthier foods.

In January 2003, Ed Wilkins, head of student nutrition at the San Francisco Board of Education, implemented a policy requiring that school-sold food contain less than 30% fat (of which saturated fat must be less than 10%) and less than 35% sugar. In addition, food must meet minimum standards for vitamins, minerals, protein, and fiber. French fries, soda, Gatorade (a brand name for an athlete's drink), hot dogs, and all foods made into batter and then fried were banned from the cafeteria.

Although initial food sales declined, they quickly rebounded. Wilkins will also introduce a salad bar in elementary schools. He reports that the kids love it almost like a country outing. He's also planning a "grab-and-go" breakfast option for kids who don't eat breakfast at home.

In most communities, the first step is to talk to the principal and a dietitian, expressing your concerns. In 2002, Newsweek published an article describing how Saralyn Myers, a mother of two in Dobbs Ferry, New York, changed the school menu. "We uphold high academic standards, so why can't we uphold high standards for the food we eat?" she argued. She organized a committee to persuade the school to use whole-wheat bread and add a cold dish counter and vegetables to the menu.

You can also raise questions at PTA meetings and suggest forming a committee to understand the food situation in local schools. If vending machines and fast food fund certain school activities, you might encounter some resistance. Organizations like the National Association of School Boards and the National Association of Secondary School Principals have opposed any policy changes. Clearly, they are willing to jeopardize children's future health to maintain current funding. But with increasing understanding of childhood obesity and diabetes rates, this attitude is difficult to consider impartial.

While legislation restricting the sale of soda hasn't yet passed nationwide, in New York State, the legislature has passed a bill that would limit the sale of food and drinks from school vending machines. When the bill passed 139-5, one legislator worried, "You have to be 21 to buy Ho-Ho." You could tell legislators not to worry, that you're willing to sacrifice their children's health by not being able to buy Ho-Ho at school.

If schools are unwilling to give up revenue from vending machines, they can stock them with healthy snacks such as fruit, dried fruit, and yogurt at discounted prices, while increasing the price of foods with no nutritional value. A study of vending machines conducted in 12 secondary schools and two workplaces found that reducing the price of low-fat snacks and mailing educational labels increased the sales of low-fat snacks without reducing vending machine revenue.

If you feel unable to challenge school policy, you can discuss your concerns with your children's pediatrician. According to former FDA Commissioner Dr. David Kessler, the medical community is no longer facing the most prevalent epidemics affecting the vast majority of Americans, but the American Academy of Pediatrics recently released a policy report strongly advocating for schools to restrict soda. Your pediatrician is likely familiar with this report and may be concerned about the increasing number of obese children they treat. With a little incentive, they might be willing to participate. You can also seek support from your local dental association, as most dentists are concerned about the effects of soda on children's teeth. For more information, visit the School Foods Tool Kit at cspinet.org/schoolfood, the website of the Center for Science in the Public.

Beyond the school cafeteria menu, as a concerned parent, I'd also like to understand the school's physical education program. How many physical education classes are there? Aside from changing clothes and lining up for roll call, how much time is actually dedicated to physical activity? Are sports teams limited to students with athletic talent, or is there an opportunity for everyone to participate? Are sports activities so competitive that average students are relegated to the sidelines? Winning is good, but it's more important for children to know that the enjoyment they gain from participating is even more crucial. Are sports programs equally available for boys and girls? If increased funding for physical education is not permitted, could the content of physical education classes be modified to increase the actual amount of physical activity and ensure that all children benefit?

Organizing a walking-oriented school bus program could be considered. From Chicago to Christchurch in New Zealand's South Island, there are programs where adults take turns accompanying small groups of children on their walk to school. Children typically get off at the driver's residence or along the route, then walk to school in groups under adult supervision. This helps parents avoid causing traffic congestion around schools, and both children and drivers get some exercise. For more information on starting such a program, please visit walkingbus.com.

In theory, parents can help schools encourage students to develop a healthy body image. However, this is practically difficult because these goals are less concrete and achievable than something as simple as removing soda from a vending machine. While elementary schools have courses on preventing eating problems, middle and high school health and science courses might include discussions of physical development and maturation changes, the influence of genetics on weight and body shape, and the dangers of extreme dieting. It would be beneficial for schools to develop policies against harassment and teasing, particularly regarding body size and characteristics; this should be easily implemented.