The district, which has four years left on a Pepsi-Cola contract, would encourage secondary schools to offer students more water, sport drinks and fruit drinks in machines. Elementaries could have no more than two vending machines and sell only water, fruit and sports drinks during school (faculty rooms would be exempt). All schools would be encouraged to limit candy as a reward, balance junk and nutritional foods in machines, and discourage junk food through "competitive pricing."

Nebo District wants students to eat more fruits and vegetables and has received a national award for efforts so far, food services supervisor Bill Vest said. Still, while two schools have piloted flavored milk machines, most secondary school machines sell junk food.

"At this point, there's not a lot of restriction there, but we are meeting and discussing the options," Vest said.

Jordan District has a new district health advisory committee examining nutritional research, vending machine offerings, adequate lunch time and related matters, school board vice President Ellen Wallace said. The work could span a year or more.

"My vision . . . is they will advise the board on what policies and directions we should go," Wallace said. "Health issues are not going to go away."

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