No more chocolate milk or ice cream treats in the cafeteria? An end to bake sales and fundraisers selling sweet treats? Is the state trying to regulate what I put in my child's lunch bag? These are just some of the questions swirling about a new school nutrition law that takes effect August 2012.

It's still unknown how its implementation will play out, but the changes may not be as drastic as some had feared. And actually, many parents welcome the healthy changes. The law was passed last year to combat childhood obesity by offering healthier food at school and encouraging kids to be more active. The state hopes that better nutrition will enhance classroom learning, and help kids develop healthy eating habits for life. One-third of Massachusetts children are overweight or obese, says Mass. Department of Public Health (DPH) Medical Director Dr. Lauren Smith. When those kids grow up, weight problems put them at higher risk of developing chronic diseases like diabetes or heart disease, says Dr. Smith. "School nutrition is not the only answer obviously, but kids do spend a lot of time there, with some kids eating two meals a day at school. It's an important component," says Dr. Smith.

The changes put Massachusetts in the vanguard of states improving school nutrition, says Dr. Smith. Many parents support healthier food in schools. But some parents want less regulation. And nearly everyone baystateparent spoke to says kids deserve a treat once in a while.

Lunch Stays the Same, So What is Changing?
This law does not apply to the main school lunch, which includes an entree, sides, milk and dessert. The national school lunch program is governed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which is considering changes to lunches nationwide in line with the Massachusetts law.

Instead, the new law is aimed at "competitive foods," or foods that compete with the main school lunch. What that means is that everything else sold or provided for free in the cafeteria and anywhere else on school grounds during the school day - plus 30 minutes before and after - must meet healthy nutritional guidelines. Those guidelines prohibit fried foods; require fresh fruits and veggies and whole grains; limit fat, sugar and sodium contents; and eliminate trans fat, caffeine and sweetened drinks.

The changes will be felt most in middle and high school cafeterias where kids have had lots of choices apart from the main lunch, like french fries and hamburgers, Dr. Smith says. But changes will be noticeable in elementary schools as well.

Chocolate milk will be around for at least two more years, to the relief of dozens of parents and cafeteria managers who pleaded with DPH to keep flavored milk as the only way to get some kids to drink milk. But starting August 2013, schools may offer only flavored milks with a sugar content no higher than the sugar content of lowfat and non-fat white milk.

Classroom parties will probably have more fruit and veggies and no more white-flour, high-sugar cupcakes. Many schools already have eliminated food from classroom celebrations because of children's allergies.

Schools with snack bars must switch to foods containing whole grains and less sugar, fat and salt, along with all the other requirements. Schools that offer ice cream treats may have to switch to fruit popsicles or dairy treats with less fat and sugar.

Fundraisers may change, but the law applies only to fundraisers and booster sales that occur during the school day or 30 minutes before or after. So if the fundraiser involves ordering food, and the food is distributed before or after school hours, including the 30 minute window, the law doesn't seem to apply. Dr. Smith of DPH hopes that schools and parent/teacher groups will plan fundraisers in line with the new nutrition regulations anyway. So instead of frozen cookie dough fundraisers, with per-cookie fat content topping 35 percent for some brands, how about a walk-a-thon or bike-a-thon as a fundraiser?

Bake sales can go on as always, as long as they are not during the school day, or within the 30-minute window before or after. So, for instance, a bake sale selling traditional cookies and treats can happen in the evening at a school open house night.

Bag lunches are not covered, so kids can continue to bring from home anything they want for snack or lunch, in accordance with classroom allergy policies.

School districts have a year to plan new menus and make arrangements to buy healthy foods to comply with the new law. Many schools have already begun making changes, and more will begin practicing this year.

Some school cafeteria managers are concerned that the changes will raise their food costs and reduce their sales among kids who prefer less-healthy foods, but Dr. Smith is convinced that healthy schools can be cost neutral.

In Somerville, the changes have actually led to more kids buying lunch and a profit for school cafeterias, says Lauren Mancini, Assistant Director of Food Services for Somerville Public Schools.

Somerville: One Step Ahead
As part of a citywide program called Shape Up Somerville, the city's K-8 schools have been making changes since 2003, going even farther than the new law. The school system got rid of all "competitive" foods in K-8, and modified the main lunch to include low-fat, whole grain foods. This year, Somerville will offer white milk and water only, getting rid of juices and chocolate milk.

At first, the school district was spending more to get healthier food. And it initially lost money without the revenue from french fries, juice and other extras. But Somerville schools joined with other school districts in buying collaboratives to save money through bulk pricing. And over time, more and more kids bought the main school lunch, meaning a net profit for Somerville schools, says Mancini.

Overall, they've heard a few complaints from parents, but Mancini invites those parents to make suggestions and share recipes.

The changes allow cafeteria nutritionists and workers to focus on making the main lunch healthier and more appealing, rather than spending time making pizza and all the other extras, Mancini says.

A few of the popular new foods are broccoli slaw, veggies sauteed with olive oil and garlic, and corn & bean salad. These items went through student taste tests and modifications until students approved.

"If the kids were in charge of the lunch line, we'd have french fries, pizza and chocolate milk. But we don't allow them to set the curriculum, so they shouldn't be determining what the school lunch should be," says Mancini. "It's not the convenience store. It's the lunch program. It's to feed hungry kids a healthy meal."

But even Somerville schools allows a special cookie or juice pop once a month. "Kids deserve a treat once in a while," says Mancini.
Amy Corneliussen is a freelance writer living in Central MA with her family.

Highlights of the New Law
The new law making school food healthier takes effect August 2012.
What does the new law apply to?
The new healthy school food law applies to all food and beverages provided or sold in public schools during the school day, plus 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after the school day, except the main school lunch and breakfast.

Here's what will change:

• All food and beverages sold or provided during the school day (including 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after)
• A La Carte items sold in the cafeteria, including snacks, sides, treats, and beverages
• in the classrooms or hallways, including in-class parties
• in any fundraiser
• at any school-sponsored or school-related event
• in school stores
• in school snack bars
• in vending machines (which must meet nutritional standards 24 hours/day)
• at concession stands.

Here's what stays the same:

• Your child's purchased main lunch or breakfast meal, and everything that comes with it.
• Your child may continue to bring from home anything she or he wants for a bag lunch or snack, accounting for classroom allergies.
• Bake Sales at school events that take place in the evening, or weekends, or at least 30 minutes before or after the school day.
• PTA and group Fundraisers may continue to sell food that does not meet the new nutrition standards as long as the food is distributed more than 30 minutes before or 30 minutes after the school day

. Nutritional Changes:

• Fruit and Non-fried Vegetables must be for sale wherever food is sold, except non-refrigerated vending machines and beverage vending machines.
• Juice, milk, milk substitute and water are the only beverages to be sold or provided.
• As of August 2013, chocolate milk will be available only if it contains the same amount of sugar or less than white fat-free or lowfat milk.
• Juice must be 100 percent juice and is limited to 4 ounces per serving.
• Water must be readily available and free to students all day long.
• No fried food.
• All bread and grain-based foods must be whole grain.
• Limit of 200 calories per item, except a la carte entrees, which must not exceed calories of main lunch entree.
• FAT limited to 35 percent, or less, of food item's total calories; and saturated fat limited to 10 percent of food item's total calories. Except - one ounce nuts, nut butters, seeds or low-fat cheese.
• No trans fat
• Sugar limited to 35 percent, or less, of food item's total calories; except non-fat or lowfat yogurt containing up to 30 grams of sugar per 8 ounce serving, and fruit.
• Sodium limited to 200 mg per food item, except a la carte entrees, which may contain up to 480 mg sodium per food item.
• Nutrition Info must be available to students for all non-packaged foods; except fruit and veggies, or other food and drinks sold during school day at booster sales, concession stands and other school-related fundraisers and events.
• No Artificial Sweetners
• No caffeine except trace amounts.