YAHOOOO.

MORE NUTRITIOUS FOOD IN SCHOOLS (S 2314)

Senate 37-0, approved a bill that would ban junk food in schools and require the Department of Public Health to develop new and healthy nutritional standards for food sold in all school cafeterias and vending machines.

The proposal mandates that the standards include requiring that schools offer fruits or vegetables, drinking water at no cost and nutritional information about any non-prepackaged foods. It also bans the use of fryolators in the preparation of food.

Other provisions create a special commission on nutrition and childhood obesity; establish guidelines to assist school nurses in screening and referring children suffering from childhood obesity, diabetes and eating disorders; require that all schools include nutrition and exercise in their curricular and encourage public schools, colleges and universities to purchase locally grown foods from Massachusetts farms.   

Supporters said that schools should not promote the sale of junk food and drinks that are unhealthy and have contributed to an increase in child obesity and diabetes. They noted that one in three Massachusetts middle school students and one in four high school students is overweight or obese.

The House has approved a different version of the proposal and the Senate version now goes to the House for consideration.

Nice news, it is a start with so much more to do!  Let's get healthy.