Norman High has rolled out a new policy restricting the types of food that can be sold on campus, and the change is already affecting students and clubs.
According to Kaylee Shafer, club leader of the Asian American and Pacific Islander Association, the policy was passed to encourage students to eat school-provided lunches.
“The food policy was passed so that kids would eat school lunch more,” Shafer said. “Most people I know would not eat it.”
The shift comes as Norman Public Schools undergoes an audit of its food policy, ensuring that any food sold aligns with federal guidelines. Administrators say the goal is to promote healthier eating habits, but some students and teachers see challenges.
“I understand that it is put in place to prevent students from eating unhealthy food, but it doesn’t prevent them from going off campus and eating at restaurants,” Shafer added.
The change also impacts student fundraising. Clubs that traditionally sold baked goods now face new hurdles in raising money for events and activities.
“Personally, I mean it obviously has affected some of our fundraising because we would sell things that don’t align with the food policy, or the federal guidelines, because that’s the stuff that would sell,” said Madison McDaniel, teacher sponsor for Tigerpalooza and STUCO.
McDaniel noted that even within a single food item, such as cookies, compliance can be complicated.
“Like you can make a cookie, for example, and it could have so many different ingredients in it, and maybe some cookies have the correct ingredients in it, then some don’t. So the concern would just be that it’s hard to navigate what would be able to sell, even if it’s the same thing,” McDaniel said.
For some organizations, the food sales were about more than raising funds.
“We also do these sales to spread awareness,” Shafer said. “We brought attention to the clubs so that people would know who we are. We taught them the origins of certain foods.”
While the new rules may present obstacles, Norman Public Schools appears committed to its effort to provide healthier options. For now, the food policy and its effects on student life are likely here to stay.