By Ashley Yen ‘14

To ensure sales of solely nutritional beverages to students during the day, the soda machine in the Ertzman lobby has been taken away. It will be replaced by a beverage machine that will sell nutritional drinks instead of soda, according to Business Administrator Brenda Hoyle.

MCPS has put new regulations in place involving vending machines that do not follow the school system’s nutritional quality guidelines such as the calories from total fat being at or below 35 percent per serving. Machines that serve soda, for example, must be closed for the whole day and open 30 minutes after school ends,  which includes candy machines as well. The push for the regulations was started by the group Real Food for Kids, a grass-roots parent advocacy group that promotes healthy food in schools. The request was sent by City Council Member George Levanthal to Superintendent Joshua Starr, who requested for Royalle Vending Services to change the timers on the machines that don’t follow the wellness policy.