Balance of Food

I told you about proposed moves in Connecticut to deal with junk food in schools. Now New Jersey gets its turn. The state announced regulations to all but expel junk food and soda from New Jersey public schools by the start of the 2007-08 academic year. The guidelines include a curriculum requirement to teach nutrition education. All drinks except lowfat milk, water and 100 percent fruit or vegetable juices will be gone from elementary schools. Middle and high schools have a more relaxed policy. Soda and candy will be allowed only after school. These rules only apply to food sold by the schools; kids can still bring junk food with them. When I saw "Super Size Me," I was amazed at the scenes from Naperville (IL) Junior High and the kinds of foods available to growing junior-high students. Who knows what I would have looked like if given the temptation of junk food in school? A conducive environment for learning doesn't jibe with calorie-laden snacks.