Latest in fight against childhood obesity: President Obama signs Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act
The Child Nutrition Reauthorization Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 is a mouthful to say, but essentially recommits funding to federal school meal and child nutrition programs.
However a new focus in the Reauthorization is reducing childhood obesity by:
- giving USDA authority to set nutritional standards,
- helping communities establish local farm to school networks,
- seeking to improve nutritional quality of foods,
- expanding access to drinking water,
- setting wellness standards,
- promoting standards for wellness and nutrition in federally-subsidized food programs, and
- expanding support for breastfeeding.
Perhaps most importantly the Reauthorization provides additional funding to schools that meet updated nutritional standards. This is an historic investment — the first real reimbursement rate increase in over 30 years.
The Robert Woods Foundation – leading advocates for studying the problem of childhood obesity and recommending solutions – was encouraged and supportive of the Reauthorization:
Today marks a major step forward in efforts to prevent both childhood obesity and hunger among our nation’s children. The signing of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act into law is a long-awaited victory for the 31 million students who participate in federal school meal programs. By giving the USDA the authority to update standards for all foods and beverages in schools, this new law says unhealthy foods have no place in our nation’s schools. And schools finally will have more resources to serve nutritious and appealing meals.
Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, M.D., M.B.A., President and CEO, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
President Obama and the First Lady were proud to be apart of the movement to fight Childhood Obesity and continue to take a leadership role:
As an example of how the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 will change a typical school lunch, below is a before and after example, as provided by the White House press office:
BEFORE MENU:
Hot dog on bun with ketchup
Canned Pears
Raw celery and carrots
Ranch dressing
Low-fat chocolate milk
AFTER MENU:
Whole wheat spaghetti with meat sauce and whole wheat roll
Green beans
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Kiwi halves
Low-fat Milk
Low-fat ranch dip
Soft margarine
For more details go to the Let’s Move website at http://bit.ly/fvlD3b
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