Guidelines adopted to improve healthy choices on Hawai'i campuses have them outpacing many of their Mainland counterparts in reducing the sale of sugary drinks at schools.

Contracts with Coca-Cola and Pepsi have limited the sales from vending machines for several years, with each year more restrictive, said Glenna Owens, manager of the Department of Education's School Food Services Branch. Two years ago when she took charge of food services, schools were selling 80 percent healthy choices.

Last year the switch was made to 100 percent.

"Ours (policy) is fairly cut and dried," Owens said. "All the vending machines on campuses are water or 100 percent juice. They're in line with our wellness guidelines."

In May the Hawai'i Board of Education also implemented nutritional guidelines, which include low saturated fat, no trans fat, low sugar and high-fiber foods. The guidelines also place an emphasis on breakfast, healthy snacks and physical fitness to be implemented by 2011.

The vending machine restrictions and the wellness guidelines, which deal more with what is served on campus and in the cafeteria, are meant to promote healthier eating habits, Owens said.