A national survey of 1,420 vending machines in 251 U.S. schools in 24 states (i.e. elementary, junior high and high school)–found that 73 percent of drinks offered were soda pop and sugary juices. Only 5% were milk, and only 12% were water.

Read the full report here.

Why does soda hurt kids? In a 4000 kid study published in an AMA journal, soda consumption among children and adolescents rose 41% between 1989-1991 and 1994-1995, mostly displacing milk and juice, the leading sources of many vitamins and minerals in the American diet. Among kids ages 2 to 5, 75% drank milk, 53% drank juice, and
34% drank soda. In those ages 12 to 17, 63% of boys and 49% of girls drank milk, 34% drank juice, 68% of boys and 63% of girls drank soda.
Nearly all high schools (98%) and junior/middle schools (74%) have vending machines.

Schools can make short-term profits selling these “products” (they’re not really food), but even schools that have stopped selling them are not losing money–in fact, some are making MORE money. Student stores, water-company contracts, and other sources of funding are taking the place of soda-contracts. CSPI has a free tool-kit for schools that want to improve their nutritional quality.

For example, Velva, North Dakota has a successful program. You can too–check out the free tool-kit, or get expert advice as an adult.

Fruit juices are high in calories but often low in nutrients. This is a recipe for obesity: food that is not filling or satisfying, but provides calories.

A new study of 1700 12 year olds, published in the British Dental Journal finds fruit drinks and carbonated drinks increased the odds of erosion being present at 12 years by 252%. Whole fruit, on the other hand, like apples and oranges, were protective.

Fruit juices contain no fat or protein…just sugar. It’s known that bacteria in the plaque of your teeth converts the sugar to acid and attacks your teeth and the spaces in between.

What to give kids instead who won’t drink plain water? Try a splash (1 tablespoon) of colored fruit juice (cranberry, for example), a squeeze of lime, a slice of orange,
Or try vegetable juice– to go packs of tomato or V-8.

And model yourself: snack on fruits and vegetables, so your kids can do the same, and see you doing the same. Out of sight, out of mind—this goes for cookies in the cookie jar, and juice boxes in the car. Get rid of them! They’re bad for your kids, bad for weight loss, and don’t have a place in your home…though the fiber, vitamins, and crunch of fresh fruit does.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children over age 7 drink no more than two 6-ounce servings of fruit juice a day, but this is too much for most kids–nearly empty calories, and lots of them. Fill up on food as medicine here.