Beverage Association puts cap on high calories

[Guest guest]

Beverage Association puts cap on high calories

Arley Hoskin, Staff Writer January 05, 2006

When the new year rolls in it seems to bring a conviction for eating

right and losing weight. But nutritious choices should not be

limited to new year's resolutions, said Ron Hein, executive director

for the Kansas Beverage Association.

The association joined with the American Beverage Association to

limit the amount of high calorie drinks available in school vending

machines.

" It was our response to the concerns that had been made, " Hein said.

The association's new policy limits the times and places that high

calorie sodas are distributed. Under the policy, no carbonated

beverages are distributed at elementary schools; in middle schools,

high calorie sodas are only distributed in machines used after

school hours; and in high schools high calorie sodas should comprise

no more than 50 percent of available beverage options. Bottled

water, sports drinks, low calorie juice, 100 percent juice and diet

soda are presented as healthier drink alternatives.

Beverage distributors that are part of the association agreed to

these guidelines pending existing contracts, Hein said.

The association's policy is not a mandate on school districts, but

Hein said he thinks the policy will help districts move in a healthy

direction and complement existing nutrition policies.

Most school districts already prohibit vending machines in

elementary schools and offer nutritious drink options at middle and

high schools in light of the nation's increasing childhood obesity

problem, Hein said.

In the past 20 years, childhood obesity in the United States has

increased by more than 35 percent.

Making better drink choices is just one part of the solution, Hein

said.

" I don't think that anybody is of the opinion that this one step of

the beverage industry is in any way, shape or form going to solve

the obesity problem, " Hein said. " It is a matter of looking at the

overall package of what we need to do to maintain a healthy body

weight. "

Vending machine beverages are just part of school districts'

challenge to create a healthy learning environment. Government

mandates require districts to have a new wellness plan prepared by

July.

" There is a definite connection between healthy nutrition and proper

learning, " said Bob Hull, Olathe School District assistant

superintendent for general administration.

Hull heads the district's Nutrition and Wellness Council.

In the Olathe district, vending machine use is determined by each

building, but the council's wellness plan could enforce districtwide

restrictions on machines, Hull said.

" All of the specifics haven't been worked out at this point, " he

said.

Even without Kansas Beverage Association guidelines, districts

throughout County provide a variety of nutritious drink

options.

" For years we have been offering healthy choices at the schools, "

Olathe Superintendent Pat All said.

Healthful options are also available in ee Mission schools,

said Leigh Anne Neal, director of public information and

communication.

" There are a lot of different choices, " Neal said.

Officials from Blue Valley and DeSoto school districts said their

schools also provide nutritious drink options without any

districtwide mandates.

" As it stands now each school is doing a little bit of their own

thing, " said Steve , Blue Valley director of business

operations.

DeSoto board president Thierer said she does not think

vending machines need to be mandated by anyone outside of the

district.

" I think we should put good nutritious items there for kids to

choose and we should teach them how to make good choices, " Thierer

said. " That is what our district is doing. "