Dietary Guidelines mandate far more fruits, vegetables
Sally Squires, Washington Post
Saturday, April 7, 2007
As part of a sweeping effort to help improve nutrition for schoolchildren and fight childhood obesity, the Agriculture Department is proposing for the first time requiring schools to bring their cafeteria menus into compliance with the latest U.S. dietary guidelines.
While the department limits the sale of soda and some junk foods in school cafeterias, it has not required schools to implement the 2005 Dietary Guidelines, which call for increased consumption of whole grains, fruit and vegetables. Nor does it regulate vending machines, a la carte menus or other food and beverages sold in schools outside of the cafeteria, although a bill introduced by Sens. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, seeks to do that.