As dietetic students we are aware that the majority of fluids consumed by the American population contain excess sugar and additives. However, I never thought that the consumption of these beverages would impact children's water intake. As part of the new act that I wasn't aware of, schools are required to make clean water accessible in student eating areas.
Vista Middle School outside Los Angeles has approximately 1,700 students and four water fountains in the student eating area.
It's still to be decided if a school with those numbers -- 1,700 students, four water fountains and a 30-minute mealtime -- satisfies the new legislation.
The USDA is working with schools and committees to develop new ways to implement this part of the new legislation.
The UCLA/RAND Center for Adolescent Health Promotion, a CDC-funded prevention research program, has been test-driving a way to get children drinking more water at mealtime to help combat America's obesity epidemic. It's called a water intervention -- a five-week research program that includes a water filter and cups for five schools in the Los Angeles school district, provided free from the UCLA/RAND project.
The test includes these steps: Install a water filter in the school. Fill five-gallon jugs. Chill jugs overnight. Place in the eating area during mealtime. Serve with cups. The results will not be published until next year, but anecdotally, the program is a success, researchers say."We've seen students really gravitate towards the water out here and fill up their cups right before and after lunch to hydrate" says Burt Cowgill, the project manager. "The water is very popular and we have a lot of participation."
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