ANCHOR LEAD IN:
AS THE NUMBER OF OVERWEIGHT KIDS CONTINUES TO RISE, SCHOOLS ARE TRYING LOTS OF NEW WAYS TO HELP CHILDREN STAY HEALTHY...
NOW...LUNCHROOM TECHNOLOGY IS HELPING PARENTS KEEP TRACK OF THE HEALTHY - AND NOT SO HEALTHY FOODS -- THEIR KIDS ARE SCARFING DOWN IN THE SCHOOL CAFETERIA! HERE'S ____________WITH TODAY'S HEADS UP!

TRACK ONE Length: :09
FORGET ABOUT BIG BROTHER - NOW YOU CAN BE BIG MOTHER, LOOKING OVER YOUR KIDS' SHOULDERS AS THEY GO THROUGH THE LUNCHLINE!
IT'S ALL THANKS TO COMPUTERIZED PAYMENT SYSTEMS.

SOT
Key @ : :10 Name: Joe Clark Title: Educational Technology Specialist, Food Services Department
"It allows the parent to see the, the purchase history of the student and see what items that they're actually eating on a day to day basis."

TRACK TWO Length: :05
AND A GROWING NUMBER OF SCHOOLS ARE USING THEM....LETTING MOM AND DAD CHECK UP ON WHAT JUNIOR HAD FOR LUNCH.

NATS
Length: :02
"Doritos!"

TRACK THREE Length: :06
A QUICK VISIT TO A CHILD'S ONLINE ACCOUNT SHOWS EVERY PURCHASE MADE DURING THE MONTH. IT'S A SYSTEM THAT'S WINNING FANS...

SOT
Key @ : :29 Name: Lisa JonesTitle: Daughter Uses MealPay
"I like the idea that I have that control that I know what she's eating."

TRACK FOUR Length: :05
OF COURSE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO USE IT BUT MANY SCHOOLS ENCOURAGE IT AS PART OF AN OVERALL HEALTHY EATING PROGRAM...

SOT
Key @ : :39 Name: Joe Clark Title: Educational Technology Specialist, Food Services Department
"What we're finding out is that even at the elementary level we're teaching classes on what is a healthy choice."

TRACK FIVE Length: :05
SEEING WHAT KIDS WILL TRY AT SCHOOL HELPS PARENTS ENCOURAGE NEW FOOD CHOICES AT HOME, TOO...

SOT
Key @ : :49 Name: Lisa Jones Title: Daughter Uses MealPay
"I'll see that she ate like spinach or collard greens, and I know she'd never, ever eat that at home!"

SOT
Key @: :55 (short!) Name: Abigail Jones Title: Mom tracks her lunch
"I like a bunch of fruits and vegetables that I tried at my school."

TRACK SIX Length: :03
AND MAYBE BEST OF ALL, IT CAN EVEN IMPROVE DINNER TABLE CONVERSATION...

SOT
No Key @ : Name: Abigail Jones Title: Mom tracks her lunch
"I like it because it would give us something to talk about during dinner."

TRACK SEVEN Length: :03
AND THAT'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT! I'M ______ FOR HEADS UP.

ANCHOR TAG:
ALL OF THIS SHOULD BE GOOD NEWS TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT...THE U-S DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE HAS JUST UNVEILED A NEW FOOD PYRAMID FOR KIDS RECOMMENDING THAT CHILDREN EAT MORE FRUITS, WHOLE GRAINS AND VEGETABLES AND STAY AWAY FROM FATS AND SUGARS.

PRESS CONTACT

Heidi Monroe Kroft
BLASTmedia
317.806.1425, Ext. 3
heidi@blastmedia.com

MealPay.com is new software technology that allows parents to gain access to their child's lunch and school activities account via the web, telephone or from unattended kiosks around the school campus. MealPay is a prepayment system that allows parents to make online payments for their child's lunch, field trip or any school activity. It also enables parents to make payments by phone. The software allows parents to view their child's balance at any time, as well as check payment history. Email confirmations of payments and low balance reminders are automatically sent to parents. Payments can be made quickly and easily using a credit card or check. Wallet and Auto-Replenish features allow parents to set a low balance amount that will automatically replenish their child's account when it reaches a specified balance.
The system is currently available in 75 schools and 24 states, and a list can be found at: https://www.mealpay.com/default.aspx?mi=_availMenuItem