Out With the Pizza. In With the Broccoli. |
posted by: Alana | July 28, 2016, 04:53 PM |
The rise of childhood obesity has been on the radar of key policymakers for years. But this month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture took action by issuing new rules that drastically reduce the presence of foods deemed unhealthy within a school's four walls.
These strict provisions were created with the idea that reducing a student's exposure to advertisements of foods not permitted for sale in school according to the guidelines will reduce the appeal for these items and thus help them make better, healthier choices.
Unhealthy foods are those viewed as having too many calories and too much sodium, fat, and/or sugar. The new limits for snacks and entrees are now defined as:
This means gone are the days of soda pictures on vending machines and many a bake sale flyer options, but according to Katie Wilson, USDA deputy under secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, many schools requested these changes.
"Education and wellness and advertising to kids about healthier choices [and] that all has to be part of the school environment just like making sure they have pencils and paper and computers," Wilson said.
For more information on the new USDA school food provisions, click here!
What do you think of these new guidelines? Are they well overdue or over stepping their bounds?
Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
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