NYC Schools to Limit Sugar in Lunches

The Associated Press
Jun 25, 2003 : 10:02 am ET

NEW YORK -- Soda, hard candy and doughnuts will disappear from vending machines in the nation's largest school system this fall under stricter nutritional guidelines designed to fight childhood obesity, officials said.

New York schools, which serve about 800,000 meals a day, will also serve lower-fat versions of foods like tacos and chicken nuggets. And beef ravioli and macaroni may soon be history.

By 2008, the city expects to abide by federal recommendations that 30 percent of the calories in school lunches come from fat.

School vending machines will continue to sell cookies, potato chips and pretzels, among other snacks, along with all-juice drinks and water, school officials said Tuesday.

The changes come amid alarm about poor diets and fitness among children. About 13 percent of children are overweight, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

California has mandated what schools should serve in cafeterias, and Texas set new guidelines on student exercise.