Snacks at School

Local jurisdictions, and often individual schools, serve up snacks in different ways.

Montgomery County, for instance, gives principals guidelines covering such factors as food storage and sensitivity to children with allergies, according to Kathy Lazor, director of food and nutrition services for public schools. Then, each principal makes policy. Some schools let kids bring anything they want; others enforce strict rules.

In Virginia, the Governor's Nutrition and Physical Activity Award Program encourages schools to compete for awards for providing a healthful lifestyle of nutrition and physical activity.

In Loudoun County, snacks sold during the school day are part of the meal program that meets the governor's scorecard criteria, food services supervisor Suzie Kollaja says. Parents can decide whether children may purchase snacks.

In Fairfax, schools can choose to be part of the county snack program. The school district also has an extensive Web site ( http://www.fcps.edu/parents/schlunch.htm) that posts lunch menus and gives students a nutrition calculator.

Your best bet if you'd like to know your school's food policies is to talk to the principal.

-- Stacey Garfinkle