What did they want to do?

Food and Nutrition Services worked with the school board to eliminate soda and unhealthy snacks from secondary school vending machines.  They also succeed in eliminating the sale of soda from middle and high school campuses during the entire school day.

Who took action?
Food and Nutrition Services Co-Coordinators

Where did this happen?
Capistrano Unified School District - school

Demographics

• Third largest school district in Orange County, CA with more than 46,000 students enrolled
• 14% of students qualify for free and reduced price meals
• 73% Caucasian; 18% Hispanic; 5% Asian; 2% African American; 1% Filipino; 1% Multiple, American Indian/Alaska Native or Pacific Islander

Academic Year Implemented
2002-2003 Academic Year

Why did they want to do it?

Offer only healthy foods and beverages in the secondary school vending machines.

Background

The school district's beverage contract with Pepsi Bottling Company was expiring and the district was preparing to go out to bid again. This started a conversation between the school food service director and the purchasing department about how to offer only healthy foods in vending machines including only milk, 100% juice and water.

How did they accomplish their goal?
1. Food service coordinators met with high school principals who used the school vending machines as a fundraiser for extracurricular activities and the principals were supportive of the idea.  Information on childhood obesity was shared as well as a plan for improving the nutritional quality of vended items.

2. Food service coordinators, in conjunction with the purchasing director, then presented their intent and justification to the school board.

3. School Board was receptive and unanimously approved the resolution.

What were their results?

The school board resolution banned all soda in vending machines, which now offer only water, juices, fruit drinks and sports drinks. This resolution banned soda in middle and high schools during the entire school day. Additionally, all of the vended snacks in secondary schools, except for chips, now meet the fat and sugar guidelines. The school food service coordinators are working to remedy the chip situation and hope to soon only have backed chips.

The district's efforts to promote healthy foods go beyond the vending machines. Food Service Coordinators are looking at all foods sold through the district. The Associated Student Body is now meeting these same guidelines. The ditrict is also working on the Parent Teacher Association, trying to provide the PTA with different alternatives to fundraising.

Students have been very positive about the changes.  It seems that if they are thirsty then they will buy what is in the vending machines.  Water has become very popular now.

What are their future plans?
The district will compare financial records to see if there was any change in funds raised by the schools after switching to healthier options. But even if there is some revenue loss, the district will not change its new direction.

We're not perfect yet, but we're pretty darn close!

For More Information Contact
Dawn Davey
Capistrano Unified School District
32972 Calle Perfecto
San Juan, CA  99999
United States
(949) 489-7375
[email protected]
http://www.capousd.org