When Congress comes back for the post-election session, there will be little time and many competing priorities. One that must be addressed is child nutrition. Child nutrition may not have the political cachet of some of the big ticket items on Congress' plate, but here are seven reasons why this bill should be a top priority for congressional action.
1. Better School Lunches! The child nutrition bill would improve the nutritional quality of school lunches. It provides money for schools to buy more fruits, vegetables and whole grains. It also would ensure that school funds aren't siphoned off to pay for a la carte junk foods, like pizza or French fries. Schools would get access to more model menus, healthy recipes that kids like in other schools, and additional advice and support to serve healthy meals.
2. Junk Food Out of Schools. A provision in the bill would get junk foods and sugary drinks out of school vending machines and elsewhere on school grounds. It would require the U.S. Department of Agriculture to bring its 30-year-old nutrition standards into the 21st century. (Those standards now prohibit calorie-free seltzer water, yet allow candy bars!)
3. Families Rely on School Meals. Given the current economic situation, more families rely on the child nutrition programs to feed their families than ever before. The bill would expand access and reduce barriers to the child nutrition programs.
4. A Historic Investment in Kids. The bill is fully paid for and won't add to the deficit, even though at $4.5 billion of additional funding over the next 10 years, it is the largest new investment in child nutrition programs in decades. Some members of the House previously had concerns about the bill because it is paid for, in part, by ending a temporary increase in food stamp benefits five months early. However, a recent public commitment by President Obama to restore this benefit following the passage of the bill should alleviate those concerns and allow House members to vote for the bill.
5. Good for Farms and Farmers. The child nutrition bill expands farm-to-school programs, strengthening the traditional links between the school cafeteria and America's family farms. This will encourage farmers to grow -- and schools to buy -- a greater variety of locally produced healthy fruits and vegetables.
6. Democrats and Republicans Agree on It! Though partisanship and politics have been thick in D.C., the Senate worked together on a bipartisan bill that it passed unanimously. You rarely see that on such major pieces of legislation.
7. Health Advocates and Industry Support It! The bill has strong support from over 1,100 national, state and local health, education and anti-hunger groups, as well as unions and the food, beverage, dairy and supermarket industries. Supporters include the American Beverage Association, Mars, SEIU, AFSCME, National PTA, National Education Association, American Heart Association, Feeding America and Share Our Strength.
Oz Garcia: School Nutrition: Targeting Junk-Food-Filled Vending Machines
Rebecca Costa: Superman Versus The Supermemes
Kerry Trueman: Let's Ask Marion Nestle: Is Stealth the Way to Healthy Eating for Kids?
FarmToSchool.org Home Page -- FarmtoSchool.org
The Stew: Obesity decreases with better school food and gym says ...
Child nutrition bill, priority for first lady, stalls
The lengths “Big Food” goes to protect it’s globalized supply chain and tilt “Organic” legislation stretch far. Whether it’s feigned contempt for Jamie Oliver’s school lunch initiative or milk, it only underlines the treachery of these corporate monopolists (General Mills, Monsanto, Cargill, Tyson Foods, Archer Daniels Midland etc.) through their collective sensitivity to any changes to health messaging e.g. “The Food Pyramid”, however faint it’s reach.
http://www .washingto npost.com/ wp-dyn/con tent/artic le/2010/10 /02/AR2010 100203114. html?hpid= topnews&si d=ST201010 0204275
Any information or movement that may dissuade you and your kids from shoveling down as much fatty meat, dairy, refined sugars and all the white starches your system can endure, is off message to “Big Food”. They hold a self-evident, colluded influence over the very agencies that claim to be protecting YOU from THEM.
i feel for the kids whose parents either don't have the resources, knowledge or just aren't paying attention. this may be some of the reason american kids are losing ground in the world. nutrition does play a part in learning.
Love what the Republicans have done with our country!
Anyway, it's so strange. America's children have never been fatter or sicker and we can't seem to figure out why.
Common sense it not so common. - Voltaire
Best health always,
SuperMom101
So very true! Thankfully last year our now 11 year old begged me to stop ordering him the school lunch twice a week because "it's just disgusting." He now packs a lunch every day and it's usually leftovers.
It always makes me chuckle when the food and beverage industry rants and raves about food "choices" in our schools. 'Cuz we choose not to eat their junk. Fast food, junk food holds zero nutritional value and sadly it is "shoved down the throats" of our children especially in the poorer communities.
Few days ago feed four hungry 11 year olds: pasta with red sauce, a sliced fresh cucumber and a glass of water. How much does a happy meal cost?. Think my meal for four totaled maybe $7.00.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. - Ben Franklin
Starts with a "D". And the FDA is in bed with the major food suppliers, all colluding to poison your children, physically and psychologically (later in life). And yeah, it does affect learning ability (hence one reason Americans are by far the stupidest population on the planet). The question is, why haven't Americans protested this subjugation of their children's health, from the government-industry collusion to create a nation of dumb, obese people that will likely have shorter lifespans than the generation that preceded them? Why are they not protesting the Republicans who are against the school nutrition bill? If Americans won't stand up to defend their own children against their own government..... then game over. You might as well just brand your children at birth, with the company that owns them.
To get this passed, I think that all members of congress should have to eat this crap for a month.
You said, if it's that easy why didn't they do it earlier....You need to do some studying in the political field or you'll never get it! Stop erasing your posts to me, I'm getting somewhat dizzy!
Phone #, D.C. Office, 202-225-2401
Fax #, 202-225-5955
Can you believe in some cities/towns here in Texas they still deep fry stuff!
The food industry will write the regs for any new bill to prevent any real change. I am not very hopeful for change from the corrupted federal establishment. Local efforts may be more effective for a few children but we will probably lose another generation before people demand better.
Beck will light the politov cocktail, Palin or Newt will heave it at the people, and the Tea Partiers will riot in the streets over it. This is what will happen for the next two years to good bills that benefit everyone.