"This means potentially unhealthy foods available to elementary, middle and high school students from cafeterias, snack bars and increasingly ubiquitous vending machines. "

""There's no regulation (of these foods) in schools, so schools have become a big haven for pretty much everything," said Geri Brewster, a registered dietician and wellness consultant for Northern Westchester Hospital Center in Mount Kisco, N.Y. "It's going to come down to pay now or pay later.""

", was released Wednesday by the Institute of Medicine and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and was originally requested by Congress. "

"Lisa Harper Mallonee, a registered dietician and assistant professor of dental hygiene at Texas A&M Health Science Center Baylor College of Dentistry, called the recommendations "wonderful," but emphasized that intensive efforts will be needed to make them work. "

""It's not just federal agencies and industry -- it has to be grassroots," she said. "It's going to have to be schools, parents, everyone working within schools to actually get it into motion." "

"According to the CDC, the prevalence of overweight among children aged 6 to 11 has more than doubled in the past 20 years, jumping from 7 percent in 1980 to 18.8 percent in 2004. Among teens, the rate almost tripled, from 5 percent to 17.1 percent. This trend may be fueled partly by high-calorie, low-nutrient foods available in schools. Unlike foods from federally reimbursable school nutrition programs, these foods do not have to conform to any nutritional guidelines or recommendations. "

"One report found that nine out of 10 schools sell so-called competitive foods in snack bars and vending machines. "

""It goes beyond obesity," Brewster said. "Our kids are a lot sicker than they ever were before." "

"Local education agencies were required to develop wellness policies by 2006 and, while steps have been taken, progress has been uneven. The new report was partially intended to augment these policies. "

"The committee authoring this report first divided foods and beverages into two tiers, based on how well they conform to the 2005 "

"Tier 1 foods and beverages provide at least one serving of fruit, vegetable and/or whole grains or nonfat/low-fat dairy. "

"Tier 2 items do not meet Tier 1 specifications but aren't entirely outside dietary intake recommendations. These might include baked potato chips, low-sodium whole wheat crackers or animal crackers. "

"Snacks, foods and beverages should derive no more than 35 percent of total calories from fat, less than 10 percent of total calories from saturated fats and be trans fat-free. "

"Snacks, foods and beverages should get no more than 35 percent of calories from total sugars, unless they are 100 percent fruit or fruit juices without added sugars, 100 percent vegetables and vegetables juices without added sugars and unflavored nonfat and
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