A healthy and tasty start to life...

August 27, 2010 by Stacy Carruth

News on obesity seems to be everywhere, and the statistics are really alarming. For example, 26% of Massachusetts high school students are overweight or obese, and obesity rates have more than doubled in the past two decades. At the RCHC, we were all really excited to see that the Massachusetts statehouse recently passed a school nutrition bill, and we know this will go a long way towards starting young people off on the right foot towards a healthy life. Here are some of the main points of the bill:

* Healthy standards for snacks and beverages sold in vending machines at schools (standards will encourage greater consumption of water, low- and non-fat milk, juice, reduced fat and sugar in snacks, and increased consumption of fruits and vegetables).

* Easier purchase of produce from local farmers

* Establishes a Commission on Childhood Obesity to create a state-wide plan * Requires DPH and Dept. of Early and Secondary Education to set guidelines for training school nurses to help children with diabetes and eating disorders (and to collect data and evaluation these conditions).

A link to the bill: www.mass.gov/legis/laws/seslaw10/sl100197.htm

 *From: Protect Our Children’s Health, a fact sheet created by the Massachusetts Public Health Association 2010

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