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Schools ready to help fight child obesity

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By KATIE CORONADO | News Channel 8

Published: February 9, 2010

Junk food may soon be a thing of the past in Bay area schools.

This morning, President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama launched the Let's Move campaign to end childhood obesity.

The national campaign includes removing junk food from schools and adding more physical activities to school days.

"We think this has enormous promise in improving the health of our children in giving support to parents to make the kinds of healthy choices that often times are very difficult," the president said.
Rick Kurtz, director of Food Nutrition Services for Pasco County schools, said he thinks his schools are "already meeting the expectation of the president and Mrs Obama."

The school system offers healthier alternatives in their new vending machines.

"The machines were delivered last week and did training today," he said. "It's called our Healthy Vending Program."

Students have options of granola bars, baked chips and organic energy bars.

Nutrition specialist Maggie Junta generates the menus for Pasco County schools

"This year, we switched all our pasta from white from whole grain," she said. "We don't advertise it because students tend to think they're not going to like it if it's healthy."

She said most of the pizzas they offer students are whole grain and use low-fat mozzarella cheese.

Kurtz said he hopes the president and the task force realize this new system will require additional funding. "To offer fresh fruits and vegetables every day and to switch to whole grain products costs more."

Hillsborough County school officials require vending machines to be turned off during breakfast and lunch.

Pinellas County leaves it up to individual school principals to make those decisions.

The new plan calls for a Task Force on Childhood Obesity chaired by the assistant to the president for domestic policy. Representatives from various agencies, including Health and Human Services and the secretary of education, will be a part of the team.

Their goal is to make recommendations to ensure access to healthy affordable food, provide healthier food and increase physical activity in schools, and to empower parents with educational tools.

The task force is expected to make recommendations on how to move forward with the program within the next 90 days.

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