By Michael D. Clark
The Cincinnati Enquirer

MASON - Next school year students will have a chance to be more knowledgeable about what they are eating.

Mason Board of Education officials learned Tuesday that the Warren County school system will be one of the first in Greater Cincinnati to put nutritional information labels on food served in the 8,600-student district.

Darlene Hicks, director of food service, told the school board the additional information is an extension of Mason Schools' varied food offerings in grades kindergarten through 12 and furthers the schools' mission to provide healthy fare.

"We really want to be part of teaching children to be healthy," said Hicks of the new labeling, which will begin in the 2004-2005 school year.

Recent national studies have shown that America's youth in general overeat and are out of shape. About 14 percent of American youths ages 6 to 19 are seriously overweight, a figure that has nearly tripled in 20 years, according to the U.S. surgeon general. Locally, some Greater Cincinnati schools have begun removing or restricting students' access to sugary snacks and drinks.

Mason Board of Education President Dave Lenert said adding nutritional labeling is "very timely."

"There is a lot more talk now about what schools should be doing" to improve student diets, he said.

E-mail mclark@enquirer.com