Changes Coming to High School Concessions Stands

A mandate by Portland (Maine) Public Schools that all food served at school events meet federal nutrition standards will be felt at football concessions stands throughout the district this fall.

Last spring, the Board of Public Education approved new policies that will remove sugary sodas, potato chips and other unhealthful items from classrooms, school vending machines and concessions menus. But as football season approaches, the new policy is generating some buzz. As Fox News Radio declared on Monday, "Attention high school football fans in Maine: B.Y.O.C. - Bring your own Coke."

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In a statement posted on the district's website, PPS explains that "the new standards apply to food and beverages sold or served by a school or school organization regardless of location. Food served on field trips, sold by sports teams or offered at events sponsored by parent teacher organizations (PTOs) all must comply with the policies."

That means no birthday cupcakes or ice cream parties, either. But Chanda Turner, school health coordinator for PPS, told The Portland Press Herald that students and teachers are not prohibited from bringing soda or chips to school to consume on their own; they just won't be able to purchase any from a vending machine. Turner, who added that the policies have been five years in the making, was a little more forthcoming with Fox News, telling reporter Todd Starnes that "we are not making any restrictions on personal choice. The only thing we are affecting is what we as a school system [are] going to sell or provide. It's not a complete restriction on anything considered non-healthy. We didn't want to go too far."

While some residents clearly feel the district went too far - as evidenced by reader comments posted to a Press Herald editorial praising, in particular, the soda ban - Portland is not alone. This week, the wellness policy that has been in place for almost six years at Durham (N.C.) Public Schools might undergo changes that could eliminate unhealthy food as rewards and at parties, as well as require at least three healthy options on concessions menus. In June, the district removed sugary drinks from a food vendor contract. Meanwhile, public high schools in Mankato, Minn., will begin selling turkey dogs, pizzas with whole wheat crust and other similar items beginning at home volleyball games on Thursday.812_nachos.jpgTo help students, parents and high school sports fans better understand the changes put in place in Portland, the district posted several documents explaining the new rules - including a flow chart that takes into consideration almost every conceivable scenario in which food and beverages are sold or served on school property. Officials stress that the nutrition policies do not apply to such non-school groups as community athletic leagues using schools outside of the school day or to non-school groups providing concessions at school events that take place off campus.