Spurred by the rising rate of obesity among American youth and the increasing availability of high-calorie, low-nutrient products on school grounds, a new report by the Institute of Medicine proposes a set of nutritional standards for "competitive" foods and drinks available in schools. The standards promote consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and nonfat or low-fat dairy products and limit the amount of saturated fat, salt, added sugars, and total calories. The standards also restrict the sale of caffeinated items.
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