Counting Fewer Calories

Big Texas: crusty, plastic-wrapped, 460-calorie cinnamon roll, one of the coffee shop’s quickest selling items. With the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) changes passed by congress for the coming school year, Big Texas cinnamon rolls are one of many foods that will no longer be sold in the school.

The Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act (HHFAKA) was enacted by Congress in 2010 to curb childhood obesity. The Foods Sold in School Act, otherwise known as Smart Snacks in Schools, includes a section which specifically targets school lunches. Any food or beverage sold to students on campus during the school day must qualify under these guidelines, which limit nutritional amounts of things like sodium, trans fats and calories.

However, cafeteria meals are not the only foods impacted. Any food sold to students during school hours are subject to these guidelines. This includes products sold in the coffee shop, vending machines, food for fundraisers sold to students during school hours and in the student store outside the cafeteria. This means no chocolate bar sales or donut parties during school. But, students will be allowed to bring their own food.

Any food must qualify under at least one of four criteria points before nutrition facts come into consideration. First, it must be a whole grain-rich product. If not that, then the first ingredient must be a fruit, vegetable, dairy or protein product, or it needs to be a combination food with at least one-fourth cup of either a fruit and/or vegetable. Finally, it must contain 10 percent of the daily value of one nutrient of public health concern. These include calcium, potassium, vitamin D or dietary fiber.

“Well, we’re working right now with the lunch ladies to figure out what would be good alternatives for students,” junior and next year’s student body president Annie Savage said. “We don’t really have much say, but we want students to be happy with what they get in the lunch line.”

Foods the cafeteria and coffee shop can sell that students will still enjoy include sugar-free gum and muffins, according to Savage. Companies that the school and the coffee shop buy food from are trying to make products that do follow these guidelines.

Each state is allowed one exemption for to this law. Although it will be presented next month, Jill Funk, the nutritionist for the district, believes that the exemption presented to the state will be fundraisers, one per every group in school. Meaning, each school club or sport will be allowed one fundraiser involving food.

However, the HHFAKA changes will not have exemptions for the coffee shop which will have to follow all the guidelines the cafeteria does.

“There will be a change in the coffee shop next year,” Tami Fryer, who buys the food for the coffee shop, said. “Things like the Big Texas and the donuts will not make that cut. We’re now looking at healthier items. We are trying to find the best tasting products that meet the guidelines, our coffee shop’s variety and high standards.”

The coffee shop believes only the food items will be affected, according to Fryer. Coffee will not be affected, just the products put into it such as syrups and sweeteners. This means there is a chance the shop will have to transfer to sugar free french vanilla syrups and portion sizes for sugar.

Funk said she received mixed reviews from the different groups she presented this information to including parent-teacher association, principals and high school student councils.

“I think it’s a good step in the right direction nutritionally,” Funk said. “The time frame is a quick turnaround. It’s a lot of information to get out and it does go into effect July 1st.”

To make sure the Food Sold in Schools Act is enforced, the district will have to keep record of all the food sales in each school. The state will review all the nutritional labels to make sure they qualify under the HHFAKA guidelines. If the district does not comply with the guidelines the state will cut their funding.

“Right now all that matters is about the kids who eat at school,” Savage said. “Making it easier for them and not as much as a big change or a shock.”