The recent ban on snack sales on campus is a controversial subject for Chandler High School staff, students, and clubs. Let’s start by explaining what these new rules mean.
During the Summer 2024 break, CUSD brought attention to schools and clubs who were not meeting federal Smart Snacks guidelines on campus. In order to better follow these rules, they ended food truck services at lunch, as they did not meet the nutrition guidelines required by the US Department of Agriculture. As many students may know, clubs and sports also used to sell candy and snacks as fundraisers during the school day, which often did not meet these health criteria. CUSD has now published guidelines for all snacks being sold, so they must meet certain conditions to be sold by clubs and students. The approved food items may include nuts, light popcorn, granola bars, fruit cups, no-calorie flavored water, and other healthy options.
Outside of the Smart Snacks guidelines, CUSD’s contract with food service provider Aramark, who serves Chandler students breakfast and lunch daily in the cafeteria, also includes further restrictions on when food items can be sold on campus, even as a club fundraiser. According to these restrictions, students can only sell candy and different snacks thirty minutes after the school day ends, and only for a few weeks at a time.
While these guidelines may initially seem restrictive, it’s important to remember that they are designed to improve the health of our students. Principal Greg Milbrandt emphasizes, “It’s a step towards reducing the sugar intake from candy bars and promoting healthier snack options.” This shift, though challenging, is ultimately intended for the betterment of our student body.
While the food ban may initially evoke conflicting emotions, it’s important to remember that we at Chandler are a resilient community. This change may impact our club funding, but it also presents us with opportunities to adapt and innovate. Whether it’s adjusting our snack offerings, finding new ways to fundraise, or selling snacks only after school, we have the ability to navigate this change and continue to thrive.
Overall, this is a significant change that we will adapt to in order to keep our school a fun and healthy environment for everyone.
