When state Rep. Jason Watkins, R-Wichita, proposed mandating that school vending machines contain only “healthy food alternatives,” it seemed like more legislative meddling. The bill rightly stalled early this year. But to Watkins’ credit, the industry took the hint: The Kansas Beverage Association will announce at a press conference today that it has adopted the American Beverage Association’s new policy of encouraging that elementary school machines stock only water and 100 percent juice, that middle school machines offer only nutritious or lower-calorie drinks during school hours, and that at least half of the drinks in high school machines be nutritrious or lower in calories. Such self-policing beats a legislative mandate.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
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11 Comments
Congratulations are due State Senator Jason Watkins for stepping forward on this important educational issue.
The Food Police strike again.
My mistake — I believe Mr. Watkins is a member of the Kansas House of Representatives rather than the State Senate.
It is a nice token gesture, but will have little impact. All anyone has to do is go to a local grocery store. Check out overweight moms with there overweight kids..and check out the shopping cart. Cookies, donuts, chips, candy, etc.
Nice thought that the schools not contribute to childhood obesity, but like so many things, it originates at home, and the schools are limited in their ability to change behavior.
typo…”their”….ooops.
Ray! I have notice that myself. It is scary. Lots of Overweight moms with overweight kids.
The schools can serve healthy drinks in vending machines (Never seen a vending machine in an elementary school) but what about their breakfast and lunch that they serve? I think they will have a TV special about this. How they are not healthy. Breakfast usually pancakes, french toast sticks, and pasteries. Lunch is hamburgers on white bread and etc.
What ever happened to no snacks and pop, period? We couldn’t even chew gum in school when we were kids! Why can’t they just eat during the lunch period? If a kid gets thirsty between classes, he/she can drink from the water fountains.Parents should insist that the schools find a better way to make money. We have way too many fat kids today, who are going to grow up and be really unhealthy adults. Some schools are even doing away with gym class, often the only place where some kids get any exercise at all. Sometimes I think the whole school system has just gone crazy!
Uhh, ever notice what the kids bring to school for lunch? Put the parents into the system gone crazy as well.
I stand corrected, make that “responsible parents should insist that the schools find a better way to make money”.
I hope this new policy in the elementary schools only applies to the kids. As a teacher, I can’t live without my DIET COKE!Fruit juice, although a healthier alternative to sugar filled sodas, is usually full of calories. How about some of the new flavored waters?
Maybe we should send the women out to collect fruits, nuts and vegetables while the men go out and hunt for meat. I think this would end obesity in America. Making schools sell “healthy drinks” is just a publicity stunt by Watkins. No politician is going to change the nature of society. Common sense cannot be legislated and should be left up to the kids parents. This guy (Watkins) says he wants smaller government while at the same timepushing for governmental control of your kids diet. Watkins needs to worry about feeding brains, not stomachs.