Kids don’t need candy in school

When little Johnny sat down for lunch at school not so long ago, he’d look at a 20-ounce Pepsi, a jelly donut and a bag of M&M’s.

Luckily, times have changed, but public schools still have a way to go before snacks and lunches are fully nutritious.

Educators and parents must work together to stop the rising tide of obesity among young people and to keep cafeteria and vending-machine foods healthy, yet desirable.

State legislation recently banned soda sales in public elementary and middle schools, but because of lack of funding, the new law lacks teeth and still allows other junk food to be sold on campuses. At public high schools, sweets are still prevalent.

Childhood obesity in the U.S. has doubled in the last 10 years, nutritionists say, and until candy and fast food are eliminated, that trend will continue.

Conejo Valley, Oak Park and Las Virgenes unified school districts have taken a proactive approach by banning soda sales and cutting back on junk food even before the new state law was enacted. They began eliminating many items with empty calories over a year ago, and for that, they’re to be com-mended.

But the challenges are many. If substitutes (such as fruit snacks for Skittles and granola bars for candy bars) aren’t popular, students will simply bring sweets from home. Parents, like school administrators, must be vigilant and mindful of what their children eat.

Junk food is a great revenue source for schools, but that’s no excuse to continue selling it.

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