Without that money, ``we couldn't run the program,'' he said.

Parents, who often skip dinner to come to nighttime school events, are the biggest spenders at school snack shacks, the boosters say. If parents and students can't get what they want to eat on campus, they can at the nearby 7-Elevens draining money from school programs.

Student organizations also rely on food sales to help underwrite their activities.

Junior Jamal Fedalizo's class at Wilcox High sold candy to raise money for homecoming. The Best Buddies club sells brownies for $1 each a few times every month, said senior Sarah Samoranos. And four times a year, all student organizations sell food -- including items such as deep-fried Oreos -- at lunchtime Food Faires. The Vietnamese Club earns about $1,600 a year this way to put on a cultural show and donate money to organizations in Vietnam, said senior Darrell Tran.

``These sweets and junk food are a financial resource for these clubs,'' said Sarah, 17. ``Without money, we have no clubs. And without clubs, we have no Wilcox community.''

Instead of a complete junk food ban, the students said they'd like to see some exceptions.

``It's a good idea; it benefits our health,'' said Jamal, 17. ``But 24 hours a day is pushing it.''

Elementary and middle schools do not sell soda or candy now, but their booster and parent groups frequently sell food.

Sutter Elementary parent and PTA leader Anna Strauss said she likes the move to serving healthier foods at school. ``But I don't think the school board needs to come in and make across-the-board decisions about what kids are eating at all times on campus,'' she said. ``I hope it doesn't get to where every hot dog we sell will be scrutinized. I think we need to find a balance.''

Message to students

Supporters of the proposed changes say they understand all these worries. But while money is important, they say, it's more important to send students a clear message.

``What is our ultimate goal? To teach good eating habits,'' said Kelly Gomez, a Wilcox High School resource teacher who served on the nutrition committee.

She thinks students may adjust to the changes more easily than their parents.

When the student store at Cabrillo Middle School replaced junk food with healthier offerings, students grumbled at first, and there was a slight dip in sales, Gomez said, but after a while ``the kids started responding favorably.''

In the Vista Unified School District in Southern California, nutrition director Enid Hohn says she has been able to quadruple revenue for schools by replacing junk food with healthier choices.

She bought new vending machines, placed them in attractive enclosures and started selling granola bars, trail mixes, peanut butter-filled pretzels, peanuts, beef jerky, low-fat cheese, cut-up fruit, fresh vegetables with ranch dip, bagels with low-fat cream cheese and shaker salads in domed containers. Ice cream machines sell 100 percent fruit-juice bars, and no portion of anything is larger than four ounces.