Mississippi is Recognized for Providing Nutritious Food and Beverages Snacks in Schools

Mississippi is one of the leading states in the nation when it comes to banning less nutritious foods in schools

Mississippi has moved from the bottom to the top of the list of states that ban less nutritious food and drinks to school children. MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports.

Three years ago nearly all of Mississippi's schools allowed candy bars, cookies and sweet drinks to be sold in vending machines. Now that number has dwindled to only a hand full. Dr. Howell Wechsler of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's division of adolescent and school health says that one step goes a long way in fighting obesity.

“When it’s no longer in front of them they are much more likely to choose the nutritious school meal. Much less likely to make the choice for junk food and sugar sweetened beverages. We think that’s gonna have an important impact, it’s not gonna solve the obesity epidemic. It is one of a number of practices put in place to truly address the obesity epidemic.”

While the school environment is a key setting for influencing children's food choices and eating habits. Dr. Janey Thornton, USDA Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services believes the biggest influence is parents.

“They’re the ones that are gonna decide where children go eat. They are often the ones that are gonna order food for their children. And we know food habits start before a child starts to school. So to get parents to understand the change that needs to take place while we’re teaching kids at school and a same consistent message throughout society is critical.”

CDC researchers found that the greatest improvements were seen in states such as Mississippi that have adopted strong school nutrition standards. Shane McNeill, is the Director of the Office of Healthy Schools.

“I have a three year old and if we continue at the rates we are right now her life expectancy is shorter than mine. And I want to do everything I can to change that so that she does have a better quality of life but also a better quality of life.”

McNeil says the new standards were developed with the passage of the 2007 Mississippi Healthy Students Act. For MPB News, I'm Lawayne Childrey.