| "In an effort to tackle the rising obesity problem in American youth, the US Institute of Medicine (IOM) has issued a voluntary nutrition standard for "competitive" food and drinks sold in schools alongside the healthy school meals program which is already covered by federal nutrition guidelines." " The rise in US childhood obesity prompted a concerned Congress to approach the IOM to recommend standards for school food." " The aim is to improve the health of all children in school by encouraging them to eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains and avoid added sugar, salt and saturated fat." " Virginia Stallings, head of the IOM committee that prepared the report, which was sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said:" " "The alarming increase in childhood obesity rates has galvanized parents and schools across the nation to find ways to improve children's diets and health, and we hope our report will assist that effort."" " Currently there are three sources of food in American schools: school meals, "competitive" foods, and the food the children bring from home, in lunch boxes for example." " School meals are served through the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program and are already covered by federal nutrition standards." " "Competitive" food is not covered by enforceable guidelines and is available in cafeterias alongside the school meals and also in vending machines. It include sugary drinks, doughnuts, candy, ice cream and salty snacks such as potato chips." " The new standards are aimed at competitive food and do not cover the food that children bring to school from home." " Tier 1 covers children of all ages, from elementary to high school all the time they are at school, including after school activity time." " -- At least one serving of fruit, vegetable, whole grain, non-fat or low fat dairy food." " -- No more than 200 milligrams of sodium per snack portion or 480 milligrams per a la carte entrée item." " -- Fat should form no more than 35 per cent of the total calorie value of a food item." " -- Juice drinks limited to 4-ounce servings in elementary and middle, 8-ounce serving in high schools." " These criteria would favour food and beverages such as apples, dried fruit, baby carrots, low-sugar cereals, low-fat with low sugar yogurt, turkey sandwich, water, skimmed milk, soya drinks, 100 per cent fruit and vegetable juices (in the restricted quantities because of their high calorie value)." " Sports drinks can be issued to athletes under the supervision
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