Just picked up a little recipe card from Kraft at the grocery store today, and thought I'd share it with you. The apple-cheddar stacker recipe offers protein, calcium, fiber, and energy. A decent little snack for the kids or you!

Ingredients:

• 3 oz Kraft 2% Milk Reduced Fat Sharp Cheddar Cheese
• 1 small apple, cut into 24 slices
• 2 tbsp. sugar
• 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 24 TRISCUIT Crackers

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I told you yesterday that schools are doing a better job of meeting the nutritional needs of its students. This is true -- some progress is definitely evident. Still, 20 states are failing when it comes to serving up healthy meals and snacks.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest, issuer of America's school nutrition report card, did not assign any perfect As. But Kentucky and Oregon were given an A-. Recipients of a B+ include Nevada, Alabama, Arkansas, California, Washington, and New Mexico. Those receiving a B are New Jersey, Arizona, and Tennessee. Six other states got a B-, one got a C+, three others and the District of Columbia were handed a C, and two more took home a C-. Seven states received Ds. Overall, only 11 states have nutrition plans that apply all day to all grade levels throughout school campuses.

Schools are required to comply with USDA guidelines for nutritional meals, but this agency has no authority over foods sold outside the cafeteria or outside of meal times. And while the USDA policy doesn't allow foods of minimal nutritional value (FMNV) to be sold in food service areas during meal times, these foods can be sold at any other time or place. FMNV include soft drinks, jellybeans, and popsicles -- anything with less than five percent of the Reference Daily Intake of eight different nutrients. This criteria does not eliminate junk foods like candy bars from the nation's cafeterias, though.

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