Healthy, Hungry-free Kids

How often do we hear expectant parents say, "Boy or girl, it doesn't matter as long as it's healthy!" - present company included. Now is another time to help make that happen. This time not just for our own offspring but every child. Millions of children now have access to nutritious meals that they may not have were it not for the Federal nutrition programs covered by Child Nutrition Act which is about to expire. The programs and initiatives covered by this act provide unique services including school lunch, after school programs, WIC, and child-care settings. (http://www.fns.usda.gov/fns/default.htm)


The House of Representatives have an opportunity to pass the legislation reauthorizing and strengthing nutrition programs for kids prior to September 30th which is when the current legislation expires. Let's hope they do just that. This bill is a key step in addressing nutrition concerns of our nation's children including hunger, childhood obesity, and poor diet quality. It will help us to reach the national goals to end child hunger by 2015 and solve childhood obesity in a generation.


Provisions in the current bill:

• Expand nutrition standards to all foods sold in schools - as folks that care about kid's nutrition we have been waiting for these stronger standards since the Reagan administration referred to ketchup as a vegetable.



• Strengthen nutrition education in child nutrition programs - kids and their parents need to be able to extend what they learn about healthy eating in school to the 'outside' world and education is the key



• Increase meal reimbursement rates for meals meeting specific standards - many schools would like to provide healthier meals but simply do not have the resources to do it as the amount of the reimbursement doesn't come close to covering their meal cost



• Bolster nutrition guidance for child care providers - preparing nutritious meals for children in their care doesn't always come naturally, folks need to be taught how so they can then share that information, skills and abilities to the people in their care.

The nutrition problems facing our nation can only be addressed through long-term solutions. This will take significant resources and the Reauthorization of Child Nutrition programs is the first step. Let's hope the bill passes - this week.

Happy, Healthy Eating

Marcia