Snickers satisfies, but not at North High

On June 27, 2013, over 100,000+ elementary, middle, and high schools started eating smarter due to the new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) renewed school snack standards.USDA’s “All Food Sold in School” standards have changed and they are limiting junk food.

Having smart snacks in schools are a part of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. At North you would see teachers and students sell various candies and snacks to help raise money for their club or team. As of 2014, that is no longer allowed in districts across the country.

The Smart Snack school standards state, that the USDA strives to “build on those healthy advancements [already in place] and ensure that kids are only offered tasty and nutritious foods during the school day”.

The standards intend to allow schools to offer healthier snacks for students and teachers. Although this initiative aims to make students healthier across the country, many students are wondering, how will they be able to raise money in school?

The school board is very concerned, because they don’t want any sports or clubs to suffer with the issue of not being able to sell candy. Mr. Sitzman, the curriculum specialist, is a part of the science club and helped with the pizza selling.

He said, “It’s a good idea because it’s teaching healthy lifestyles and sell high calories food contradict things.”

The “good” news about this is that the students could sell snacks, but there are guidelines. The snacks they sell have to meet smart snack standards, and the students who sell must sign a waiver stating that they can only sell for two days. This goes for two fundraisers per semester. (An example of a club that could potentially suffer is the science club. They would sell pizza after school the first Friday of every month now because the new standards. They aren’t allowed to.)

Not everything the students sell is banned, the cookie dough and popcorn they sold last year is still allowed, since you pre-order it and receive the items all in one day. That is the only way students are able to fundraise without the smart standards.

Another specific school fundraising event that does not require meeting the smart snack guidelines are prepaid chocolate flowers during school on Valentine’s Day. In Addition the guidelines don’t apply to things off campus or on the weekend, such as, school plays, or football games.

“I don’t think it hurts to help students (and adults for that matter)to make healthier choices but ultimately my job is just to make sure we are following guidelines set by the district,” said assistant principal, Kathy Lee.

Many teachers are trying to find other ways to raise money whether it’s for a team or club. Since they found out right before school started they can’t think of alternatives at the moment.

“It was a great way to help pay for uniforms and equipment; however I do support the healthy food initiative,” said boys and girls tennis coach, Gina Alati.

Trevor Cutsor, a sophomore, thinks it’s a good and bad things for us. He said, “A lot of clubs have to find different ways to fundraise but it’s a good thing because it [gives] the availability of candy out of the school so it’s healthier.”

The cheerleaders found a way to raise money with Buffalo Wild Wings at 76th and Cass. It was held on Monday, August 25 from 11 a.m. – 1 a.m. The cheerleaders got 10% of sales (before taxes).

Different companies are now trying to meet the Smart Snack standards, and designing food that are healthier snack choices that you get at lunch. This way you will get to live a healthier lifestyle, and we’ll be able to raise money by selling snacks again.

If you like to know if the snack is healthy enough for the standards there is a website to go on and see. You also need to print out certain sheets to prove that your snack/beverage is compliant or not. In order for your snacks to be approved you have to make sure you have the label of the snack/beverage taped to the printed sheets, and an Application Form verification your teacher needs to fill out so an administrative can approve of it.

Website: https://www.healthiergeneration.org/calculator