This fact sheet answers common questions about NPLAN’s Model Healthy Food Zone Ordinance, which was developed to help communities limit children’s access to the kinds of foods most likely to contribute to childhood obesity.

Many schools are surrounded by fast food restaurants, which provide students with easy access to unhealthy foods and undermine schools’ efforts to offer nutritious meals. Prohibiting fast food restaurants and mobile food vendors from locating near schools is one strategy to help reduce childhood obesity and support schools striving to improve students’ health. NPLAN has developed a model ordinance that creates a “healthy food zone” by restricting fast food restaurants near schools or other areas children are likely to frequent.