THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 10, 1995 TAG: 9502080242
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 04B EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Teens At Large
SOURCE: BY HOLLY WRIGHT, HIGH SCHOOL CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
If you're like most teenagers, you probably don't have a clue how many fat grams are in your school's cafeteria pizza. Maybe you don't care.
Well, I had to care. After starting a supervised diet program to reduce my fat intake, I had to find out how many fat grams were in my favorite foods, including the pizza at school.
Here's the truth. Eating one slice of that Italian favorite will cost you 15 grams of fat.
That may not sound like a lot, but to me that means exceeding my daily limit of 10 fat grams each day.
I have lost 25 pounds in five months on the diet, which has been the hardest thing I've ever had to do.
But I knew I had to change my eating habits, and among the changes came making wiser food choices at home and at school.
For years, school lunches have featured a cycle of fattening foods, but changes are on the horizon. James G. Ratliff Jr., food services director for Virginia Beach Schools, is at the helm of the turn-around.
``We've become more customer-oriented, as well as giving (the students) a voice in what we serve,'' he said.
A menu-planning committee - including students - meets every two months, allowing students to help develop school lunches.
Erin Smith, a senior at Cox High School, hasn't sat on the committee, but she knows what she wants. ``There should be reduced-fat sandwiches, Snapples and pasta salads,'' she said.
Jenny Johnson, a sophomore at Cox, agreed. ``There needs to be more vegetables, and they should include diet drinks, too.''
Currently, the government is considering a proposal that would require that by the 1996-97 school year, school lunches would not exceed 30 percent of total calories from fat on a weekly average.
School lunches today average about 38 percent of calories from fat.
This is 8 percent over the recommended amount of 30 percent or less each day.
The reason for this 8 percent discrepancy is because the schools have to provide higher fat foods such as whole milk and meats (low-fat milk is available), to meet the government's nutritional standards of the USDA for students, said Ratliff.
But in addition to the regular lunch fare, there are a la carte items available that are unbelievably high in fat. The culprit is that tray of doughnuts, pies and Twinkies by the cafeteria cashier.
Who would believe that a small six-pack of doughnuts could have 30 grams of fat.
The high-calorie pies and Twinkies come in next with 18 and 10 grams of fat.
These desserts will soon be sharing space with snacks for the more health-conscious student, Ratliff said.
Fat-free cookies, crackers and pretzels are in the works to join that bonanza of Hostess sweets. Some low-fat snacks, such as yogurt, are already available.
``Replacing snack cakes with pretzels and popcorn would be a big improvement,'' Erin said.
So what can students eat at school without overloading calories from fat? The healthiest choices are the obviously dreaded - salads, and fruits.
But there are selections that schools serve at least twice a month to make a lower-fat menu, including a chicken barbecue sandwich, a garden burger and a grilled chicken sandwich.
There is also a chef's salad that is available daily.
But watch the high-fat condiments such as salad dressing and mayonnaise.
These new alternatives are becoming increasingly popular among students, and they are paving the way for healthier school lunches.
If teenagers would choose these lower-fat foods more, we might be taking the first steps in creating healthier lifestyles. ILLUSTRATION: ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Holly Wright is a senior at Cox High School.
by CNB