The Howard County Public School System will have its school menus and a la carte offerings evaluated by an independent food consulting company beginning in the fall.
Mary Klatko, administrator of the system?s food and nutrition service, said inTEAM Associates, a food consulting company based in Aiken, S.C., will conduct the study beginning Oct. 23.
“They come highly recommended by the School Nutrition Association,” Klatko said.
The company will be paid $13,000 to perform the study.
SNA is a national organization of school nutrition professionals based in Alexandria, Va., comprising more than 55,000 members.
The school system?s food services are being studied as part of its newly passed wellness policy, which bans sugary foods and drinks during the school day and calls for more physical activity to be incorporated into students? schedules.
“In my mind, it?s the next step,” said School Board Chairman Joshua Kaufman. “There are some things we should be including in our food services [and also] increasing physical activity with the schools.”
Dot Pannell-Martin, president of inTEAM, said the study will involve visiting some schools with a nutritionist who will conduct an analysis of what the students are eating.
“We?ll be talking with students, and we?ll be looking at the actual food items to make sure they are meeting nutritional standards,” she said.
Pannell-Martin, who served as food service director for Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia, said her company has worked with various districts throughout the country. She launched inTEAM in 1981.
The Howard study also will provide comparisons of meal services offered at similar school districts.
“We can either verify they are on the right track or give some suggestions to help. I don?t expect to find a lot in Howard. The food service department is very sharp,” Pannell-Martin said.
She said school systems should work with parents to make sure children are eating healthy.
“The schools cannot correct everything,” she said. “Many of these children are grabbing Pop Tarts on the go.”
