Wasatch School District finds choice is sweet

HEBER CITY — Following an onslaught of bitter public response, a Wasatch District nutrition committee might spice up a proposal to limit sweets in schools with both a dash of sugar and a pinch of whole grains.

"(People) would like the water, the milk, the 100 percent fruit juices, bananas, yogurt, apples, granola bars. But they still want the (soda, chips and candy) choices there . . . in their vending machines," Cheryl Hardy, committee chairwoman and district applied technology education director, told the school board Thursday. "We're not giving up on our nutrition policy, but I think maybe you will see some choice."

The district's proposed nutrition policy was drafted by a committee of school board, district and county health department officials, to help educate students on healthy choices. If approved, it would be unprecedented in Utah, though not nationally.

The proposal seeks to bar vending machines in the elementary schools and middle school. Upper-grade schools with vending machines — which bring in about $8,500 to student programs at Wasatch Mountain Junior High, principal Dennis Bacon has said — would replace candy, chips, and carbonated and caffeinated potables with milk, water and 100 percent fruit juices. That goes even for faculty lounges.

Junk food would be relegated to fund-raisers and after-school events.

Teachers couldn't use food rewards but could have holiday goodies, bake treats in foods classes, and allow cultural dining for foreign language classes.

Also, district food services officials would have to come up with ways to cut back on processed foods and stock up on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy and foods low in fat, sugar and sodium.

The proposal is rooted in state and national concerns about rising obesity and adult-onset diabetes in children.

Over the past month, the district has sought public response to the proposal.

It's become the talk of the town.

As board member Claudia Bradshaw puts it: "Some wrote letters, very thoughtful, and some really gave it some consideration — and the students told us where to go."

While most of the roughly 75 written responses supported improving school lunch nutrition, perhaps 85 percent, plus practically all of the inch-stack of letters students wrote — many as a government class assignment — opposed removing junk food from vending machines, Hardy said.