Who is your target?
Go where people are already in the healthy snack mindset.
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Legislation forces the issues in schools
Federal
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson launched a $190 million media campaign to encourage "tweens" (9 to 13-year-olds) to make healthy nutritional product choices.
The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to set regulations to prohibit sale of food that has minimal nutritional value in schools.
Currently Congress is considering an initiative to designate "healthy schools" based on three criteria-vending machines, physical education and risk avoidance.
Sen. Tom Harkin stated that as the U.S. considers the youth obesity epidemic, that the two chief culprits are school vending machines and cafeterias which regularly serve pizza and burgers.
States
Schools are joining the fight against high-fat and high-sugar foods and beverages too. They are under fire to do something to encourage healthier snacks-even limiting it to water, milk and 100% juice products. Schools from elementary to secondary are looking for healthy alternatives to chips, candy, and carbonated beverages.
Examples
Alabama will promote healthy eating habits in school children by replacing the usual assortment of vending machine snacks with granola bars, low fat milk and fruit.
In Florida, Palm Beach is adding "healthy" vending machines.
West Virginia has one of the strongest standards in the nation for improved nutrition.
In California, Los Angeles became the first major city to ban the sale of sodas and junk food snacks in all 677 schools.
Similar bans are in effect in school districts in Indiana, North Carolina, Massachusettes, Texas, and Nebraska.
To fight the increasing costs of healthcare New York state passed an Obesity Prevention act iin May 2003. Most schools are promoting low fat milk and water as opposed to soft drinks. The largest U.S. school district (New York City) decided to ban soft drinks, sweet snacks and candy from vending machines.
Because of the prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents, a PTA in North Carolina passed a resolution recommending that schools or school districts proibit soft drink vending machines in student areas. The PTA also declared that healthier options in school vending machines such as bottled water and 100% juice drinks should be provided.
Philadelphia ISD in Pennsylvania will negotiate to obtain exclusive contracts that will ban the sale of soft drinks in school buildings.
Texas has new regulations in place that will promote healthy eating in elementary school children. Candy and sodas will no longer be available during school hours and during lunch. Neither parents nor teachers are premitted to distribute hard candy or gum in class parties.
Many other school districts are joining the fight and looking for ways to keep their money-making vending machines while providing healthier snacks and beverages.