School boards can help by adopting policies that limit the use of candy and sweets in accordance with Education Law 915, which prohibits the sale of soda, chewing gum, candy and other sweetened foods from the beginning of the school day until the end of the last scheduled meal period. Boards have the option of going beyond the law in their restrictions. Creative marketing Schools show a lot of creativity in attracting more interest in cafeteria food. The district also reminded parents to fill out applications for free or reduced-price meals. The district also offers vegetarian meals on a daily basis.
Many schools try to ingrain healthy eating habits early.
John T. Biamonte, director of food service in Ulster County's Highland School District, created a contest to teach nutrition to elementary students by building food pyramids. The pyramids had to be labeled with nutritional values of the food being represented, and students were also given a variety of related activities such as word searches, puzzles and workbook assignments, Biamonte said. In the Pioneer School District in Cattaraugus County, Food Service Director Nadine Doetterl did a 26-week promotion using the letters of the alphabet. Each week she introduced elementary students to an unusual fruit or vegetable that started with that week's letter. Then the item was used in a dish that was offered in bite-sized portions in the cafeteria.