The British Columbia government is trying to wean the province's school system off junk food and onto healthier nutrition choices.

Under new guidelines, schools will have to offer healthier choices to students who buy food at school.
(CBC)

In keeping with the plan, B.C.'s elementary schools will have to follow new nutrition guidelines, starting Jan. 1, that are designed to eliminate foods such as cookies, cakes, muffins, fries and even pizza.

Middle and secondary schools will follow in September.

Under the guidelines, popular food choices that fall into the "not recommended" and "choose least" categories cannot be sold on school premises.

Parents are already applauding the move, which government officials said reflects the importance of healthy food choices on the development of school-age children and the fact that students consume about one-third of their daily calories while at school.

"If you replace the junk food with healthy foods, sooner or later they're going to enjoy the healthful foods," said Steve Baker of the Vancouver District Parents' Advisory Council.

Vending machine operators are much less enthusiastic.

Gaye Diver of Crown Vending Systems in Burnaby, B.C., said vending machine companies, and the schools they share the profits with, will lose up to 40% of sales revenue, money schools use for fundraising and special projects.

"I think your sales will be down significantly,'' he said.

By the end of 2008, Dever said, roughly half of his 500 vending machines will have stickers indicating that the contents are in line with the provincial nutrition guidelines.

B.C. Education Minister Shirley Bond said the health of the province's students is critical. "One in four of our children is now overweight or obese,'' she said in a recent statement.

"For their future and for the future of our province, this must change.''