New policy addresses student meal choices, exercise
Hollister – SBHS is considering banning junk food from its serving platter in an attempt to fight the alarming growing problem of childhood obesity.
The dietary reform is part of the new SBHS wellness policy, addressing student nutrition and exercise.
SBHS has been phasing out its less healthy meal options since the beginning of the school year. Already the school will no longer sell students soda. Hard candies and gum have been replaced with more nutritious snacks such as Wheat Thins and trail mix. SBHS will also be tossing out the deep-fat fryers and looking for baked alternatives to French fries, taquitos and similar items.
“Really, this is harder at the elementary school level,” said SBHS Superintendent Jean Burns Slater. “We don’t have to worry about parents bringing in cupcakes for 30 students every time there’s a birthday.”
The ten-page proposal details a set of rules and suggestions designed to increase activity among SBHS’ student body, make sure each student has a firm grasp on basic principles of health and nutrition and encourage students to make healthy meal choices at school and home.
The SBHS board of trustees will vote on the policy April 19. If approved, SBHS will be implementing changes immediately over a gradual period of time. Slater estimated that it would take a full two years for the policy to be carried out completely.
San Benito County has the highest childhood obesity rate in California.
The policy is designed in accordance with state and federal legislation responding to the nation’s childhood obesity epidemic, including Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s legislation last fall designed to make California school food the healthiest in the nation.
The district is slightly altering and adding to its existing policy to reflect what it had determined to be the unique needs of the community. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell released a report last Friday on how to get students to eat healthier at school. The report was presented to every district superintendent in California and details suggestions to create healthier school environments, many of which are reflected in the policy.
“There are a lot of things we’ve taken and customized,” said Slater. “We’re hoping to share skills with the elementary school districts, and we’ve taken a good look at our physical education programs.”
The district’s biggest challenge has been determining how to encourage students to eat right when SBHS’ roughly 45 student clubs and activities rely on the sales of candy bars, cookie dough and other treats to stay afloat. Clubs raise funds throughout the year, and SBHS also holds four “Baler Lunch Times” each year – extended lunch periods where clubs hawk homemade goodies ranging from ice cream sundaes to full blown Mexican dinners.
“Not everyone can start selling wrapping paper,” said Slater. “We’re really examining different ways our students can raise funds, because everyone’s so used to selling candy bars year after year.”
While pizza, nacho cheese fries and candy bars are staples of a teenager’s diet, for their part, many students are receptive to the idea of healthy options at lunchtime, even if they’re less than thrilled about seeing their Twinkies taken away.
“I think it will cause some conflict … but requests for healthy options at lunch used to come up at every student council meeting. Student voice was a part of this,” said SBHS senior Stefanie James, a spokesperson for the Associated Student Body. “Personally, I’m really excited. I’m a vegetarian. I’ve really been examining what I eat, but for me and my vegetarian or vegan friends, there isn’t a whole lot. We can buy an apple and a bean burrito, but after eating that every day, we get bored.”
“I think this is the trend of the future, and I’m glad,” said SBHS Food Services Supervisor Brenda Pinsunnault. “I read articles all the time about how schools everywhere are switching to healthy foods, and it’s going to be good for the students.”
District officials are optimistic that the community will join their efforts in improving the health of all SBHS students which, in turn, they believe will have a positive impact on student performance.
“Study after study shows that if students are in good health, they will do better in class,” said Slater. “Students need to have a good breakfast in the morning, or they won’t be able to keep up. It’s like your car, if it doesn’t have any fuel, it won’t start up and can’t go anywhere.”
