"We are a nation that has skewed thinking of what is healthy," Luann Shipley told a Utah State Board of Education Committee. "There has to be a place that teaches how to eat correctly. School has to be that place."

After receiving an "F" last summer from the Center for Science in the Public Interest for its leniecy in allowing junk food to be sold in school vending machines, state school officials began looking at ways to improve the grade while also trying to address growing concern over childhood obesity.

That effort culminated in a list of recommendations the board's finance committee wants State Office of Education staff members to draft into rules for eventual approval by the board. Staff members also will determine whether the board has the authority to implement such rules statewide.

"We need standards. We don't have any," board member Mark Cluff said, referring to the fact that the state has no policy on what is sold in schools outside regular lunch time. "We need to make a decision on what is best for the children."

The recommendations include banning foods of minimal nutritional value from vending machines in schools and setting certain limits in the calories, fats and carbohydrates that can be in food allowed to be sold.

While committee members agreed changes are needed, some questioned whether schools will lose needed revenue or whether the recommendations go too far.

"I don't like the word ban," board member Greg Haws said, adding that students' and parents' right to choose should be kept in mind. "If we are going to provide anything, let's provide a choice." Two Utah districts -- Salt Lake City and Wasatch -- already have adopted wellness policies that out junk food in vending machines.

The matter will be revisited when the state school board meets again in September.

Recommendations regarding junk food in schools

* Ban foods of minimal nutritional value, except for items with less than 10 calories per serving, campuswide during normal school hours (afterschool activities exempted). Rule applies to all grade levels.

* Schools must sell foods meeting these requirements per container, package or amount served:

no more than 250 calories no more than 35 percent fat no more than 10 percent of total calories from saturated fat zero trans fat no more than 20 grams of carbohydrates

* Nuts, seeds, real cheese, yogurt, fruit, 100 percent fruit or vegetable juice must not exceed 300 calories per package, container or amount served.

* Beverages (except water) may not be sold in containers larger than 12 ounces

Source: Utah State Office of Education