School not biting into health food plan

Wallingford (WTNH) - These days, the push is on to get more kids to eat healthy. But one school district has opted out of a state program that promotes healthy eating.

Despite the bad weather, Wallingford students have been outside exercising; that's an important part of staying healthy as well as, of course, what you eat. But for the third year in a row, the school district here has decided not to go along with a state program that outlaws things like trans-fats and dictates exactly what kids are given.

Streaming out of Sheehan High School in Wallingford, students tell News Channel 8 they are surprised the Board of Education opted out of a state-funded program called Healthy Food Certification; it requires only healthy foods be available.

"They used to serve soda and then they stopped and so I sort of think it's better cause now they only have water," said Amanda Guerrette a sophomore.

They don't have a vending machine here and there are healthy choices.

"We have a lot of options like apples and stuff like that," said Heather Lacey a junior. "We have salad but I think it would be really good if we had more variety."

Statistics on childhood obesity are bleak.

According to the CDC, nationwide of six to 11-year-olds, 19-percent are obese. While,12 to 19-year-olds, it's 17-percent; that amounts to 9-million kids. That's triple the number since 1980.

And students admit, that one of the most popular food choices in-school is candy.

"I think that's it's getting better than it used to," said freshman Dean Heslin. "But they still sell candy and stuff."

That's one of the reasons Wallingford decided against the state program and the $42,000 incentive that comes with it. Kids could not sell things like candy or popcorn as fundraisers; concessions at athletic events would also be banned. And, the schools would lose out on the profit they make in their school lunch program. District-wide, that brings in $203,000 a year. The only problem, given a choice, kids don't always make the right one.

"No one ever actually eats the healthy stuff, it's true, no one ever touches it, they have it but no one touches it," said junior Alex Strongin.

The superintendent did not return News Channel 8's call for comment. School officials in Southington have also opted out of the program.