School Food Environment

Nationwide, schools are increasingly invaded by junk food and other food of questionable health and nutritional quality. The Healthy Schools Campaign works to reverse this situation in Illinois and to help people nationwide learn more about the issue.

Federally-funded school meal programs are not students' only choices on campus. Students also now have a variety of food choices during their school hours and mealtimes, food choices that are called "competitive foods." These can include food products sold in a la carte areas, vending machines, snack bars/stores and at fundraising events.

Perhaps most disturbingly with competitive foods, soft drinks and junk foods are widely available to students in schools. Forty percent of elementary schools, three-quarters of middle/junior high schools, and virtually all senior high schools have vending machines, school stores, or snack bars. The most common items sold out of these venues include soft drinks, sports drinks, imitation fruit drinks, chips, candy, and baked goods that are high in fat, sugar, and/or salt. A la carte areas are available in 78% of secondary schools, 65% middle schools and 31% elementary schools.

Federal regulations dictate that foods of minimal nutritional value (including chewing gum, lollipops, carbonated beverages and jelly beans) cannot be sold in food service areas during school meal periods. However, these regulations do not prohibit the sale of chocolate candy bars, chips and juice drinks from being sold in these areas. Unlike the school meal programs, no federal regulations exist to provide nutrition standards for foods and beverages sold in a la carte areas, vending machines, snack bars or school stores.

This has caused concern among academia, concerned parents, nutritionists, policy-makers, and the Healthy Schools Campaign. 

Research has consistently shown that the availability of these competitive foods compromise the integrity of the more nutritious school meals and further discourage healthier food choices among students. Data from the USDA's School Dietary Assessment Study (2000) revealed that school food service a la carte revenue was inversely correlated with student participation in the national school lunch program.  

Not surprisingly, the availability of high-fat food and sweets in a la carte areas often steers students away from fruits, vegetables and other healthier choices.

With students spending so much of their time at school during the week, and with at least one of their daily meals often coming from there, it is clear that schools provide a critical opportunity to improve the nutrition of students or to inhibit it. The Healthy School Campaign works from the position that through changes in school food policies, we can help children develop healthy lifelong eating habits.

At the Healthy Schools Campaign, our research, public education efforts, and coalition building have positioned us to be an effective advocate for a comprehensive school food agenda. We are available to work with parents, food service personnel, and/or school administrators on conducting school food assessments. If you would like more information about this, please contact Camille Reid, Food Policy Director, at (312) 419-1810.