Athletes getting hit by food guidelines

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - New nutrition guidelines were put into place this year for high schools across the country, meant to help fight obesity and make children eat healthier. However, they're causing a major stir among athletes, who say the food simply isn't enough.

Lunch period is a time for students to take a break from their studies, but it's also a time to re-energize. This hasn't been as easy for some kids.

''I'm a big guy, so sometimes I look down and wonder, 'is this just the first helping,'" said A.J. Grady.
     
Grady is an offensive lineman for the Terre Haute North Patriots.
     
He's one of several athletes who aren't being filled up by the new program.

"I wish there was more protein food, and maybe a bigger helping wouldn't be as bad, either," said Grady.

New regulations limit school lunches to just 850 calories, but some of these athletes go through five thousand or more calories a day. This means they're looking for food elsewhere.

''I eat the school lunch, and then I also bring two peanut butter sandwiches and an apple; usually get a big jug of water, and then every now and then I'll sneak a Gatorade," said Lee Davis, another football player for the Patriots.

School officials say they've gotten complaints about the new program, but have additional options available for students.

''At lunch times we offer other items that they can purchase a la carte," said Tom Lentes, the food coordinator for the Vigo County School System. "They can purchase an extra sandwich. They can purchase other items.''
     
This means the only solution will be these athlete's wallets taking a hit.

The new guidelines can be tweaked by the federal government, although, the whole program is supposed to last five years.