When youngsters return to Seneca Valley schools in the fall, their snack choices will include more fresh fruit.

North Hills students will find additional Smart Choice cafeteria foods which are baked instead of fried and include more whole grains and lower-fat ingredients.

	Anita Dufalla, Post-Gazette Click photo for larger image.

At North Allegheny, administrators are looking to come up with a less calorie-laden name and activity to replace the traditional Doughnuts with Dad day.

Many of these changes are being made in response to the Child Nutrition and Reauthorization Act of 2004. The federal law requires schools to create and adopt wellness policies geared to healthier eating and increased exercise for students. The requirement applies to all public and private schools that participate in the National School Lunch or National School Breakfast program.

Districts that don't comply face the loss of federal funds.

The goal of the act is to enlist school districts in the battle against childhood obesity by teaching youngsters about healthy lifestyles, which include nutritious eating habits and regular physical activity.

In addition to the food choice changes already under way at many schools, the act encourages physical education classes to include lifelong fitness activities, such as yoga and jogging, rather than competitive sports. Districts also are being asked to offer physical fitness opportunities to students and their parents outside of gym class.

A number of districts, including many in northern Allegheny and southern Butler counties, have been implementing the practices over the past 18 months, said Sharon Fissel, director of policy services for the Pennsylvania School Boards Association. The group has developed a model for districts to use as they create their policies.

"This is something that I've seen school districts really embrace, not because it was required, but because it would benefit the students," Ms. Fissel said.

Under the requirements, districts must form a wellness committee of school board members and administrators, a district food service representative, parents, students and community members. The committee is supposed to help develop the district's policy, and someone within the district must be designated to monitor the district's compliance with its policy.

Districts must have policies in place by July 1 and implemented by the beginning of the school year. Policies must be submitted to the state Department of Education for approval.

Many districts have gotten a head start. Food service managers and dietitians have been adding healthier foods both in cafeterias and vending machines. Students, teachers and parents are being encouraged to change the kind of treats offered at classroom parties and sold in fund-raising events.

High-fat snack foods, such as chips and processed baked goods, are being replaced by baked chips, granola bars and fruit snacks in many districts. Pizza crust and pasta might be made with wheat flour rather than white; hoagies and wraps are more likely to contain lean turkey.

Though soda pop manufacturers recently announced they wouldn't sell regular soda pop at schools during the lunch hour -- only diet sodas would be available -- the beverage has been eliminated from most school lunch counters already. Districts are choosing instead to offer low-fat milk, low-sugar juices, water and, perhaps, sports drinks.

New drink mix

The North Allegheny school board got its first look at proposed wellness policies last month.

Board member Karen Boujoukos asked how the proposals would affect the school district's multiyear contract to sell and serve Pepsi products exclusively in North Allegheny schools.

The nation's largest soft drink makers, including PepsiCo Inc., agreed May 3 to end sales of nondiet sodas in all public schools by 2009-10.

In the meantime, Pepsi Bottling Group, of McKees Rocks, has proposed changes in its vending machine offerings to include more waters and juices.

North Allegheny students have been posting notes on soft drink machines asking for more sports drinks, bottled water and other healthier beverages, according to Lynn Kovacic, director of special education and pupil services.

Other measures already adopted at North Allegheny include using only oils that are free of trans fats, eliminating deep frying and using lunch meats made from turkey.

The district's wellness policy also has been designed to offer guidance in health education and fitness classes, Mrs. Kovacic said. The recommended guidelines call for "developmentally appropriate physical activity during the school day for all students." Those physical activities are to include recess periods as well as clubs and intramural sports.

The school board is scheduled to take a final vote on the new policy June 28.

Baked, not fried

The school year just ending was a culinary transition year in many districts.

"We've already changed to frozen yogurt and low-fat ice creams," said George Zappas, food service director for the North Hills School District. "And all of the chips sold in elementary and middle schools are baked, not fried."

Combining a turkey sandwich on whole-wheat bread with baked potato chips trims both fat and calories, he said.

No vending machines are in the elementary schools, he said, and only 20 percent of the sales from machines in the middle and high schools are soft drinks. The other products available include water, fruit juice and sports drinks. Milk is the required beverage at lunch, with 1 percent chocolate milk the biggest seller.

What was the biggest change for North Hills students to get used to? French fries were no longer considered a vegetable, he said. Standard meals now include salad or fresh fruit, while normally ubiquitous french fries became an al a carte item to be purchased separately.

The biggest change in his 27-year career in food service is "seeing water become the drink of choice," Mr. Zappas said. "If you had told me 25 years ago that bottles of water would become the biggest seller after chocolate milk, I would have told you you were nuts," he said.

As they have at many schools, Little Debbie snack cakes have disappeared from Seneca Valley snack bars and vending machines. They have been replaced by granola bars and fruit options.

All potatoes -- french fries, wedges and hash browns -- are baked, not fried, food service director Gerry Galat said.

Seneca Valley students complained about the absence of some favorite snacks when the year began, she said, but they have gotten used to the new offerings.

As demand for healthier foods has grown, companies have been offering more choices, she said.

Seneca Valley students can expect to see items such as single-serving apple wedges and grapes offered at school snack bars next fall, she said.

Outside the cafeteria

New wellness policies are expected to have effects beyond the cafeteria. Districts are looking at foods served during classroom parties and sold during fund-raisers.

"We don't want kids to sell candy during the school days," said Noreen Bayer, supervisor of health services for the Mt. Lebanon School District. Vendors are developing more granola products, she said.

Similar changes are under way in the West Mifflin Area School District, said Frank Capuzzi, a principal who heads the district's wellness committee. "Instead of pizza all the time at parties, we are saying, 'How about some apples and oranges and some healthy stuff along with it?' " Mr. Capuzzi said.

North Allegheny also is thinking about modifying some events, Mrs. Kovacic said.

The district traditionally has scheduled a Doughnuts with Dad day to encourage male parents and guardians to visit school with their children, she said. The wellness committee will consider alternatives to achieve the same purpose, she said.