Sunday, January 13, 2008

Fighting Fat: New Castle must follow federal nutritional guidelines

April 17, 2006


By Pat Litowitz
New Castle News


Forget about making money from bake sales. And don’t bother sending cupcakes to school on your child’s birthday.

Starting in July, the state’s wellness guidelines for schools will extend past the lunch lines.

“We’re trying to get the kids to eat healthy,” said Rick Sankey, the New Castle Area School District’s food service director. “We’re facing a battle in the years ahead.”

Because the district participates in the National School Lunch Program, it must follow federal nutritional guidelines in an effort to combat student obesity and promote healthy lifestyles. That means serving smaller portions, using whole grain foods and eliminating unhealthy food from the cafeteria, the classrooms and in-school fundraisers.

The policy could eventually effect school athletic events.

“We’re ahead of the game compared to other districts,” noted assistant superintendent Nick DeRosa.

Changes are already in place. For example, students in kindergarten through sixth grade no longer eat french fries.

“We use a lot more vegetables,” Sankey said. “We use carrot sticks instead of fries.”

At the junior-senior high school, whole grain pizza is featured.

“There isn’t much difference in taste,” Sankey said. “Sales haven’t dropped.”

However, the district is expecting its a la carte sales to fall. Gyros, hamburgers, cheeseburgers and fries are favorites among junior and senior high school students.

“Everyone is concerned about the loss of revenue from a la carte items,” Sankey said.

Prior to the change, district business manager Joseph Ambrosini projected the district would generate $352,565 in a la carte sales this year. That number was expected to reach $455,000 in the 2006-07 school year.

Food providers and snack vendors are being forced to meet federal regulations. Ambrosini said one business, Den-Vend, may pull its vending machines from school property.

“They said it’s not worth it,” he said. “It’s in my gut that Den-Vend will leave us.”
On Wednesday, the board approved a renegotiated contract with Pepsi and Den-Vend. The new deal provides the district with $60,000 over 10 years, a reduction of $5,000. The district will lose another $10,000 if Den-Vend decides not to service district schools.

Commission rates have also been affected. Instead of a 35-percent commission on total sales, the district will receive 28 percent.

In place of carbonated beverages, Pepsi will supply its machines with fruits juices, tea and water.

The new wellness guidelines also apply to in-school fundraisers. Student groups are being advised to look toward non-food alternatives, such as a bike-a-thon, as means to raising money.

The selections are also limited when it concerns class parties. The choices? Fresh fruits and vegetables, water, 100 percent fruit juice and 1 percent low-fat or no-fat milk.

“We just have to get fruits and vegetables in them,” Sankey said.

However, neither the district or the state Department of Education can prevent students from packing lunches that contain less than healthy choices, such as peanut butter-and-jelly on white bread, potato chips, a candy bar and a bottle of Mountain Dew.

A state brochure, “Nutritional Standards for Competitive Foods in Pennsylvania Schools,” explains how schools should tackle that issue.

“(Parents and caregivers) will continuously be provided with nutrition education and encouraged to comply with the nutrition policies to the best of their ability and knowledge.”

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