NAPERVILLE, Ill., Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Naperville (Ill,) School District 203 is moving toward healthier snacks by banning soft drinks at lunch for students at two Chicago-area high schools.
Chicago's Public Schools removed candy, sugar-filled snacks and canned soda from school vending machines this year, replacing them with baked chips, pretzels, bottled water and juices.
A recent study showed 23 percent of children entering elementary school were already considered obese.
The suburban Chicago school board voted 5-2 to phase out soft drinks with high fructose corn syrup. Only water, milk and fruit juice will be sold at lunch, although students packing a lunch from home can bring soda if they wish, the Chicago Tribune said.
Soft drinks were already banned in the district's 19 grade and junior high schools and will not be available to high school students next fall.
Soda will continue to be sold at nighttime and weekend school events.
