I've seen changes (slow ones) at public schools in my area in the last year or so regarding the nutritional content of school lunches. When I first say "baked french fries" in instead of "fried french fries," that was a good day.

In a new USAToday poll, about 66 percent of parents questioned that they were satisfied that school lunches were nutritious. While I'm not 100% there yet, I have seen good changes, although more is needed. The same parents said that schools did not offer inappropriate foods at a rate of 48 percent as well.

But -- and I love this one -- when these same parents were asked if school lunches should contain more fresh fruits, veggies and whole-grain products, two-thirds answered "yes." That one I completely agree with.

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Next week will be a busy week in the Windy City, as 6,000 school nutrition professionals representing all U.S. states will be in Chicago to talk about nutritional standards in public schools, among other things.

A year ago, a federal law was enacted to require public school districts to have a wellness policy drafted and implemented (there was leeway in the details, of course). I'm sure policies will be talked about at the meeting, along with some being winners and some not so much.

The real meat (no pun intended) of the meeting will be to see which states continue to have junk food and such served at public schools -- and why that is still happening. Costs are always a barrier, but with the health of millions of children at stake, harsh discussion is always warranted in this arena.

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My son likes many healthy foods. He'll often ask for carrots or fruit for a snack. He also enjoys low-fat yogurt, sunflower seeds, and cherry tomatoes as snack foods. He has no problems drinking water or 100% juices, either. But give him the option of eating candy or drinking sugary sodas and I can guarantee that's what he'll choose. I don't like to think of my kiddo having free rein in front of a school vending machine loaded with sugary sodas, chocolate, and candy. No child requires junk food, after all. I'm not the type of person who's a complete stickler about nutrition -- I'm perfectly happy to allow my son treats from time to time. But I prefer the treats to be at home where I can manage them myself.

Two bills that will pass on Sunday will phase out the sale of sodas and impose some restrictions on the calorie, fat, salt, and sugar content in foods sold on California school campuses. A former California senator, Marcia Escutia, has been researching and campaigning for increased nutrition standards in schools for more than 6 years. The bill states that drinks sold before, during, and after school must consist of fruit and vegetable juices without added sweeteners. Bottled water, low- or nonfat milk, and some sports drinks are also allowed.

I applaud California's efforts. I know other states have implemented stricter nutrition guidelines in the past and hope to see my state following suit soon.

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Are you concerned about what your school-age kids may be eating at school? Many parents are, and the focus on trying to make sure young ones eat right at school has seen renewed focus in the last year I think.

I'm not sure providing caffeine-filled drinks as all that great an idea when kids are expected to be paying attention in class, but I digress. Some experts believe that healthier food and drinks are slowly finding their way into U.S. school lunchrooms. I just hope that finding has a hint of truth to it.

Most likely, the impetus for this stems from the fact that 17% of Americans between the ages of 2 and 19 are overweight. That's 12 million kids folks. The fight to get healthier foods into schools all the time is worth it, right?

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Are public school food menus good or bad? There are probably reams of opinions on that very subject, but the U.S. Congress is contemplating way to make junk food sales in schools way more restricted than it is now.

Junk food is surely contributing to the prevalence of obesity in younger schoolchildren these days, along with all the good tasting but highly non-nutritious processed food most kids eat. Would helping curb bad food in schools help this problem? Opinions will vary, but I say yes.

Will regulation come to vending machines in schools any time soon? Your guess is as good as mine, but I think the nation's public school system needs it.

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After reading this, I was pleased to see that at least some elementary schools are providing healthy lunch choices in there cafeterias these days in addition to or in replacement of junk foods like hamburgers, french fries and other unhealthy foods.

Could this trend reach a school near you? Remember, garbage in...garbage out. If kids eat junk, there are many expert minds that say junk will come out out them in the form of bad attitudes, lethargy, disease, promotion of ADHD and other bad things.

Good nutrition should be a top priority of kids these days -- not an afterthought to take care of later. Agree? Disagree?

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