Count me among the many who watched with disappointment as Governor M. Jodi Rell vetoed the so-called junk food ban, claiming that restricting unhealthy food in our public schools was "usurping the longstanding independence of our local school officials." Connecticut was on the way to passing the strictest anti-obesity law in America, backed by a poll that found that 70 percent of Connecticut residents don't believe that public schools should sell soda to kids.

Governor Rell's recent veto of SB 1309 is a huge missed opportunity to reduce skyrocketing rates of childhood obesity and health care costs in Connecticut. The bill, which passed in the Senate, would have replaced soft drinks with healthier beverages in Connecticut schools and have the Department of Education set nutrition standards for snacks sold in schools.

According to the Connecticut Commission on Children, childhood obesity rates are at an all-time high. Connecticut's obesity rate has risen from 11.7 percent in 1990 to 19.1 percent in 2004. In some Connecticut communities as many as 25 percent of children are overweight. Children who are obese are at far greater risk of contracting Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, both of which are at epidemic proportions among city children. These health care outcomes are of great concern because schools play a powerful role in not only providing food to children, but in shaping their long-term eating habits.

A study completed last year by Environmental and Human Health Inc. surveyed 62 Connecticut schools and found evidence pointing to the need for state level guidelines, which was one major reason for the New Haven Public School Junk Food Ban. The study found that students that were a part of National School Lunch Program ate healthier lunches due to the stricter guidelines associated with the federally subsidized program.

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Students who eat school lunches that meet the federal requirements have higher nutrient intakes and consume more vegetables than other students. They also drink more milk, fewer sweetened beverages, and eat fewer cookies, cakes, and salty snacks than students who make other lunch choices. But these requirements need to be seriously improved and expanded to include all lunches. That requires state action.

It's clear that to improve our children's health, clearly we need to get junk food out of our schools. New Haven is proof that it can be done.

Through the Healthy Kids First initiative, New Haven schools have taken the bold stand of removing unhealthy snacks and sugary sodas from school vending machines, curtailing bake sales and changing the food we serve children. In essence, the New Haven Board of Education has stood up to the constant onslaught of junk food temptations by removing the lure from schools.

Admittedly, this has not been easy. The school Nutrition Committee met for two years to craft the Healthy Kids First plan. We tried to attack the issue from many sides, asking that school vending machines be cleared out of poor snacks and stocked with healthier fare, like baked chips, 100 percent fruit juices and bottled waters. We asked schools to consider fundraisers that don't involve candy and bake sales. We built a central kitchen that is delivering healthier and more interesting meals to kids, including salad bars, chicken and beef stir fry and ethnic meals that appeal to a variety of palates. Last year, Nathan Hale Elementary School went junk-free, taking soda out of vending machines and serving baked versions of french fries and tater tots. This year, we expanded the initiative citywide.

Connecticut has passed legislation prohibiting students from smoking, drinking or taking drugs in school. We still have the chance to make a public commitment to healthier children, by setting consistent nutrition policies for schools and by limiting student access to foods and beverages that are high in sugar and fat.

Sending messages to kids is what the junk food industry has championed. The average child watches 20,000 commercials per year, at least half of which tout sugar-laden snacks. In Connecticut, we as policy makers have the chance to send a better message, and schools can be the showcase of modeling healthier lifestyles for the young.

John DeStefano, Jr. is Mayor of New Haven.