NCSL Nutrition Publications and Resources

 Vending Machines and Competitive Foods in Schools

This LegisBrief, written by the NCSL Adolescent and School Health Program, discusses how schools are supplementing their tight budgets with vending machine and other competitive food sales. Available to NCSL members only.

 Nutrition and Obesity. An Issue Brief written by NCSL's Health Policy Tracking Service (October 2003 update)

NCSL members can access the full document and non-members can read a summary that includes information to order this document.

  The full document is formatted in PDF. Click here to download Acrobat Reader Software.

 Percentage of Overweight U.S. Children and Teens

An NCSL postcard charting the obesity epidemic in children and teens from 1963 to 2000.

Nutrition Resources

School Lunch Program: Efforts Needed to Improve Nutrition and Encourage Healthy Eating

This report from the General Accounting Office reviews how school lunches nationwide are meeting nutrition standards and how schools are encouraging healthy eating as well as what barriers selected schools faced in accomplishing this and what innovative steps they had taken to overcome the barriers.

Foods Sold in Competition with USDA School Meal Programs

This report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture reviews the effect that competitive foods (foods of minimal nutritional value) may have on the school meal programs, including information on statutory limits or judicial rulings that may restrict the ability of the Department to regulate these competitive foods.

National Consensus Panel on School Nutrition: Recommendations for Competitive Food Standards in California Schools

The recommendations of a panel of respected state and national experts on the establishment of mandatory minimum standards for elementary and secondary schools, addressing beverages, fat and saturated fat, sugar, portion sizes, and the availability of fruits and vegetables.

American Council on Fitness and Nutrition: FAQs on Achieving Balance

Achieving a healthy balance between daily activity and calorie intake plays a major role in how we look, think and feel. On these pages you will find more information about physical activity and nutrition, the importance of physical education in schools, and several other resources to help achieve a healthy balance in everyday life.