Miami-Dade Schools Would Say Goodbye To Sugary Sodas, Hello To Physical Education Under Wellness Policy Aimed At Students’ Health

MIAMI-DADE SCHOOLS WOULD SAY GOODBYE TO SUGARY SODAS,
HELLO TO PHYSICAL EDUCATION
UNDER WELLNESS POLICY AIMED AT STUDENTS’ HEALTH

MIAMI - Miami-Dade students would have to trade their sweet tooth for healthier hearts, muscles and bones under a proposed wellness policy to be considered by the School Board on Wednesday.

The centerpiece of the new policy is specific guidelines for beverages and food that can be sold on campus before, during and after school. Among those guidelines:

Beverages containing carbonation, herbal or non-vitamin supplements, food colorings and flavors not approved by the Food and Drug Administration, and vitamin and/or mineral supplements will be banned.

Fruit-based drinks must contain at least 50 percent fruit juices, no added sweeteners or artificial flavors and colors.

Drinking water must contain no additives and electrolyte replacement drinks must have no more than 34 grams of added sweetener.

All milk and flavored milks must be fortified with Vitamin A and D.

Food must contain no more than 35 percent of total calories from fat, 10 percent from saturated fat including trans fat and 35 percent added sugar. Portion size will be cut dramatically with all beverages less than 16 ounces.

The wellness plan, which will be phased in through 2008, also would mandate physical education classes in all elementary and middle schools, which currently are recommended. Middle schools will be asked to assign an athletics/activities coordinator, who will receive a salary supplement for the additional duties.

In high schools, a fitness lifestyle course that is an elective high school class will be offered at all campuses. Currently, only 18schools offer the course. To equip additional fitness centers, $700,000 will be allocated under the plan.

The District will create innovative health literacy curriculum to ensure students meet national health education standards.

Earlier this year, the School Board approved a student healthcare plan that provides for a school-based Health Connect Team serving every school with a health technician and other health professionals. Details of that plan will return to the Board for approval early next year. The Board also approved mandatory recess in elementary schools above and beyond physical education classes.