05.03.10
The White House held a meeting on childhood obesity in early April to hear from experts and practitioners about the extent and causes of childhood obesity and to gather input for its action plan to solve the problem. Recommendations of the President’s Task Force on Childhood Obesity are due to President Obama this month.
According to the White House, more than 30 million children participate in the National School Lunch Program. With limited budgets, school nutrition programs are seeking funding increases to improve meal programs and include more fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products and whole grains. The Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act determines school food policy and resources, such as children’s access to meals and cafeteria equipment. Recently, the Senate began evaluating this legislation. Passage would mandate that major school food suppliers decrease the sugar, fat and salt in school meals, and also increase whole grains and produce served. It would also establish national nutrition standards for all foods sold on the school campus throughout the school day, including vending machines. While the legislation would boost funding for the federal child nutrition programs by $450 million per year, additional efforts are needed to reach the $1 billion per year increase requested by President Obama.
According to the White House, more than 30 million children participate in the National School Lunch Program. With limited budgets, school nutrition programs are seeking funding increases to improve meal programs and include more fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products and whole grains. The Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act determines school food policy and resources, such as children’s access to meals and cafeteria equipment. Recently, the Senate began evaluating this legislation. Passage would mandate that major school food suppliers decrease the sugar, fat and salt in school meals, and also increase whole grains and produce served. It would also establish national nutrition standards for all foods sold on the school campus throughout the school day, including vending machines. While the legislation would boost funding for the federal child nutrition programs by $450 million per year, additional efforts are needed to reach the $1 billion per year increase requested by President Obama.
