Obamas Spotlight Important Role of Healthy School Food
President and First Lady Speak Up for School Meals
Barack and Michelle Obama both brought national attention to the value of healthy school food this week: the president in his speech to the American Medical Association and the first lady at her harvest day celebration at the White House kitchen garden.
HSC applauds this focus on healthy school food, particularly in light of the upcoming reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act, and urges lawmakers to make school meals a priority by reauthorizing the act with increased funding for better school food.
“Changing the future of school food really means changing the opportunities we give kids to live healthy lives,” said Rochelle Davis, HSC founding executive director. “We applaud the Obamas for making this connection and bringing school food into discussions of education and health care. Now we need the federal government to prioritize healthy meals and give school districts the resources they need to continue making improvements to the food they serve kids.”
While speaking to the AMA about the need for a greater focus on prevention as part of health care reform, President Obama said that we must cut down “on all the junk food that is fueling an epidemic of obesity, putting far too many Americans, young and old, at greater risk of costly, chronic conditions.” And while these lessons must be learned at home, we also “should work with local school districts to incorporate into their school lunch programs.”
The harvest day celebration at the White House kitchen garden provided an opportunity for Michelle Obama to discuss healthy school meals in her remarks to the fifth graders from Bancroft Elementary School who have been helping her look after the garden -- and a gathered audience of media and advocates. She specifically referenced the upcoming reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act, explaining that, “to make sure that we give all our kids a good start to their day and to their future, we need to improve the quality and nutrition of the food served in schools. We're approaching the first big opportunity to move this to the top of the agenda with the upcoming reauthorization of the child nutrition programs.”
HSC applauds the Obamas’ consistent – and increasingly specific – public recognition of the critical role that school food plays in our nation’s health care and education systems.
The upcoming debate about the reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act will have a major impact on the quality of the meals that are served to schoolchildren for the next five years. You can lend your voice to the call for a strong, well-funded reauthorization of this important act at HSC’s Child Nutrition Act action center.
See HSC’s press release on the president’s speech »
Check out HSC’s blog on the first lady’s remarks »
HSC Invites Submissions for Innovation Showcase
In partnership with American School & University and the Association of School Business Officials International
HSC is launching a nationwide search for new and innovative products and services that help create healthier school environments. The search focuses on two areas: the environmental impact of a school, and the way that a school supports healthy eating and physical activity for students.
The Innovation Showcase is presented in collaboration with American School & University and the Association of School Business Officials International.
Companies from all corners of the marketplace are invited to share their unique innovations that focus on school wellness or the environment.
The goal of the Innovation Showcase is to provide HSC’s extensive network of school stakeholders, parents and community members with up-to-date information on unique technologies, strategies, equipment and supplies that help create healthier school - with a focus on wellness or the environment.
Congratulations to the Fresh Voices Contest Winners!
Congratulations to the winners of the Fresh Voices for Fresh Choices contest sponsored by HSC and Applegate Farms! We received more than 100 fabulous entries and were thrilled with the great stories and fun drawings that students, parents and school leaders shared. In the weeks ahead, we’ll share some of the winning entries.
This week, we’re pleased to spotlight the Overall Student Winner: Arlene Wang, student at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Lexington, KY.
Arlene’s entry, “Chef Salad (haikus)” stood out with a simple and elegant portrayal of the way fresh food stands out in a world filled with unhealthy options.
Arlene will win a healthy breakfast for her school from Notables! Congratulations to Arlene and to everyone who shared their wonderful memories of school food!
Chef Salad (haikus)
by Arlene Wang |
Crunchy croutons sit
next to green crisp cucumbers
with ranch drizzled on
fresh-grown vegetables
among the deep-fried dishes
lunch made perfection |
The Fresh Voices contest was part of a campaign by Healthy Schools Campaign and Applegate Farms to raise awareness of important school food issues, particularly in connection to the upcoming reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act. To take action in support of fresh, healthy school food, please visit our Child Nutrition Act action center! |
