Well here in Texas the food police have been around for quite some time. I was substituting at the school last week and the lunch choices were ludicrious. A package of pop-tarts, a slice of ham, and a slice of cheese was one of the main dish choices. Then you had your choice of an orange, applesauce, or jello. Someone please explain to me how this is a balanced, healthy meal that also gives our kids an example to follow?!?!

My concern about these programs is that while the government is mandating what can and cannot be sold in schools, our state government is not coming up with any ideas about how schools are going to make up the revenue lost from not selling these items, which can be quite significant to low income schools. I'm all for healthy eating in school, but if you take away a revenue source, help us find another one! Our PTO is trying to find ways to help the school make up the lost revenue, but as a low income school, we are strapped for cash as it is. So far no one has said anything, as far as I know, about what can be served in class for parties, but I'm sure that will be coming down the pipeline soon.

The 'Food Gestapo' as declared no vending and the healthy lunches -- which is OK by me
BUT the non approved cant be served until half and hour after school or has to end half and hour before school

Does that mean I cant give my kids cocoa puff at 750 and school starts at 815 and after school what is the sugar gonna lessen in that 30 mins while its waitng 2 be eaten?....

I'm all for 'healthy during school but at 2:15pm-8:14am I should be able to feeed my kids whateve the heck I decide (be it home, PTA/PTO mtg, Dads and Donuts, Muffins with Mom, Garanparent Breakfast) the last part of the rule is just plain @#ssinine

Farther West yet here in Colorado, we are excited that our lunch program is now funded with Federal funds. The Pepsi, ice cream, vending machine snacks and other drink machines are all gone which alone has saved the school thousands!

At lunch, the challenge we have is to offer fresh fruit and being able to afford to offer fresh apples etc. The kitchen does close at 1:00 to save on wages and parents are encouaged to provide healthy snacks for their kids for during recess. School just started last week so this would be good to visit again in December or so.

In another light, we have SO MANY allergy students that homemade treats or even treats for parties are frowned on. I was okay last year bringing frozen fruit popsicles but will have to see what I can bring Wed.

As far as candy sales, singing tellegrams would be a fun change!

I'm in Wisconsin and our school district just handed out a nutrition policy at an informational meeting this past week. More recently, they have removed certain vending machines from the schools (including the high school). Some of these vending machines were ones that were selling soda, sugared candies, etc. This will be something the kids will need to get used to this school year and I bet they'll be in for a shock. While I'm all for supporting good eating habits...I'm a bad role model...LOL [img]smile.gif[/img]

I am the VP of a PTO in New Jersey. There are a out 500 students in our school. Recently, the FDA and NJ handed down new guidlines to all aour schools, regulating what we are and are not allowed to do in referance to snacks and such. Things that are not allowed to be sold or given out before the last lunch period (which is over at 1:00) are things like gum, any hard candy including cough drops, chocolate, marshmallowy treats, anything with fondant, ices (except those with real fruit juice) candy corn, lollipops and things like this. This totally eliminates the candy sale we have at Valentine's for the kids, the treat bags at party's and certain snacks at class party's. Does anyone in any other state have this same new rule, and how are you handleing it?