Vending-machine choices get 'healthier'

Since 2000, area schools have tripled the percentage of healthier beverages.
By WILLIAM K. ALCORN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
AUSTINTOWN -- Mahoning County schools have a significantly higher percentage of "healthier" food and beverage choices in their vending machines than the national average.
Also, the 26 county school districts surveyed have triple the proportion -- 33 percent -- of water, milk and pure fruit juice compared with five years ago, when the figure was 11 percent.
According to its 2004 national survey of school vending machine contents, the Center for Science in the Public Interest found that 24 percent of slots in beverage machines contained water, milk or pure fruit juice, said Mahoning County District Board of Health Commissioner Matthew Stefanak.
A local survey done in 2004-05 reported that water, milk and pure fruit juice accounted for 33 percent of the beverage vending machine slots, Stefanak said.
Likewise, while it is not possible to accurately compare the contents of local snack vending machines in 1999-2000 and 2004-05 because of survey design changes, the local survey found that in 2004-05, "healthier" snacks accounted for 22 percent of the offerings in Mahoning County schools compared with the national average of 12 percent, Stefanak said.
Nutritional concerns
The CSPI categorizes low-fat chips, pretzels, crackers, Chex Mix, fruits, vegetables, granola bars, cereal bars, nuts, trail mix, low-fat cookies and other low-fat baked foods as "healthier" options.
According to CSPI, most children eat diets of poor nutritional quality, with too much saturated fat, sodium and refined sugar and too few nutrient-rich fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
Those nutrient imbalances can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, dental cavities and other health problems, including obesity. While obesity is a complex problem, overconsumption of soft drinks and snack foods plays a key role, CSPI reported.
CSPI considers water, milk and pure fruit juices healthier options in beverage vending machines.
The local 1999-2000 survey was done by sanitarians from the Mahoning County and Youngstown City health districts. They were joined by the sanitarian from the Struthers City Health District for the 2004-05 survey.
The surveys were done on behalf of the Healthy Valley Alliance, the goal of which is to improve nutrition and physical activity in Mahoning County school children, Stefanak said.
In the face of growing public concern about the increasing prevalence of obesity in children, public health and educational officials, political leaders and parents have begun to scrutinize the nutritional quality of foods and beverages available in schools, Stefanak said.
In 2004, the American Academy of Pediatrics noted that between 56 percent and 85 percent of children in school consume at least one soft drink daily. It said that each 12-ounce sugared drink consumed daily has been associated with a 60-percent increase in risk for obesity.
The academy recommended that school districts work to eliminate sweetened drinks in schools and provide healthful alternatives, such as real fruit and vegetable juices, water, and low-fat plain or flavored milk.
The federal requirement that schools develop health and wellness policies by the start of the 2006 school year has added emphasis to this growing concern, said Stefanak.
Implementing changes
Helene Dwyer, food service supervisor for Springfield Local Schools, said she has been gradually introducing healthier snacks and beverages into school vending machines over the past several years.
Dwyer said the school-owned vending machines in the middle and high schools still contain some regular chips and candy.
But, over time, she has replaced many of the snacks with candies that contain nuts, giving them some nutritional value; baked chips, which have less fat and sodium than regular chips; and cereal bars.
"I do something every year, so the change isn't too drastic," she said.
Likewise, a Minute Maid beverage machine, owned by Coke, in the cafeteria contains 100-percent fruit juice, Dwyer said.
Stefanak attributes the local success to efforts by the board of health and others to sensitize school officials to the issue.
"Stefanak and Dr. Larry Frisch, the health district's medical director, met with superintendents and received permission to conduct the surveys," Stefanak said.
"We also talked to vending machines companies after surveys, and they reaffirmed that the market is demanding healthier choices in school vending machines," the health commissioner said.
Mahoning County school districts seeking help in developing school health and wellness policies can contact Jane Warga in the health promotion and assessment unit at the county health district, or Dr. Frisch.
alcorn@vindy.com