New Food Regulations on the horizon for Manatee County Schools

Sandy Ford, the food services director at Gullett Elementary School, is proposing a new food plan for the Manatee County School district at the school board meeting Monday night.
Ford would like to see the plan implemented as early as the 2014-2015 school year, but acknowledges that it probably will not be ready to be implemented until 2015.
Regulations she will be proposing for the school board to consider include:


-50% or more whole grain
- No more than 35% percent calories from sugar and fat
- No more than 200 calories per serving for packaged products
- 200 mg sodium limit per portion
- Limit of 350 calories per entrée
- No beverages except juice, water and milk or products that are less than 50 calories per 8 ounce serving AND not in food service area
- No milk bigger than 8 ounce

Voting on the proposal is not on the school board's agenda for Monday, but they will be listening to the proposal.

Gullet Elementary has been heralded for their efforts in promoting healthy choices. Earlier this month five fifth graders from Gullett were invited to the white house to help plant the White House kitchen garden with Michelle Obama.