You are what you eat!!!

With the thought “You are what you eat” in mind, state and local education officials are working hard to make sure that San Benito County children are provided healthier meals at school.
New California legislation has created stricter nutritional standards for all foods and beverages sold in schools, including those sold at fundraiser's and after-school activities. This has required districts to revamp menus and work with food suppliers to make sure menus are meeting the higher standards.
For example, the typical bean burrito isn’t quite so typical anymore. In the Hollister School District, the beans used in the burritos served to its students contain no trans fat, which has been shown to contribute to cardiovascular disease. When possible, the district will replace a higher fat product with a low-fat one, such as using turkey dogs instead of a normal hot dog since a turkey dog is lower in saturated fat.
The changes are important, says Adam Duker, a food policy advocate with California Project LEAN, because studies have shown that most students eat a majority of their food at school, up to 70 percent or more.
Beverage standards at elementary schools went into effect in January, 2006; at the high school level, no less than 50 percent of all beverages sold to students must meet criteria by July 1, 2007, and 100 percent compliance is expected at all levels by July, 2009. Many of the new standards for meals and snacks went into effect in June, 2006.
Having cafeterias offer healthier choices is a good first step towards meeting the new standards. Spring Grove School, in the North County Joint Union School District, employs Anna Lopez as the school cook. Lopez is supplied with instructions on what she can and cannot serve, and receives recipe ideas from a state web site. She uses pizza crusts made from whole wheat flour and a corn dog made with a lower-in-fat batter. She has stopped using mayonnaise on sandwiches and features salads and fresh fruit regularly on her menus.
Other foods on the state’s approved list include individually sold portions of nuts, nut butters, seeds, eggs, cheese packaged for individual sale, fruit, vegetables that have not been deep fried and legumes. The state guidelines also regulate caloric intake, total fat and saturated fat intake, and the amount of sugar in each food or drink. Allowable entrees, which are defined as the primary food in a meal, can include items such as sandwiches, burritos, pasta and pizza. Snacks must be considered supplemental to a meal.
Allowable beverages will include water, any kind of milk, fruit juices, and fruit-based drinks that are at least 50 percent fruit juice with no added sweeteners.
Because high schools were given more time to meet the new standards, San Benito High School students still have the option of choosing tastier but less healthy items such as cheeseburgers, tacos, and pizzas loaded with toppings. The high school district says it is in “transition,” and working to meet as many of the guidelines as possible.
Fresh fruit, fruit juices, and salads are available at SBHS, but students don’t regularly choose them, Food Services Supervisor, Brenda Pinsonnault, said. Additionally, SBHS does have strict guidelines for the catering trucks that dot the campus during the morning and lunch hours.
For example, the trucks cannot sell any item that contains more than 100 calories, nor can they sell items with bacon, sausage or pork. They cannot sell any fried foods and cannot sell large cookies. Beverages containing 100 percent fruit juice and Gatorades up to 20 ounces can be sold.
Another area where schools will need to think healthier is fundraisers, according to Duker. Many schools will sell candy during the holidays, or large containers of cookie dough. Switching to fundraisers that do not involve food is one possibility.
Eventually, state high schools will have to remove all soda and candy vending machines from the campuses, and items such as those can only be sold 30 minutes before and after each school day. But offering healthier food options during after-school activities is another way schools can help students eat better. During a San Benito football game, students can munch their way through nachos, hot dogs, and burgers while washing it all down with a high calorie soda.
As schools work to meet these new standards, students reap the benefits. Not only are they being given healthier food choices while at school, they are being introduced to a healthier lifestyle in their personal lives as well.

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