Child Nutrition Reauthorization — legislation that would actually fund school meals — was supposed to be passed last September. However, since that time, we’ve seen a political food fight over the nutrition guidelines. Should we feed our kids whole grains? Should we serve them fruits and vegetables? Are these really such hard decisions to make? Most recently on the table are block grants that could result in thousands of food insecure kids going hungry.
This debate has featured politicians from both sides of the aisle as well as mega corporations, lobbyists, the School Nutrition Association and school food advocates. Yet, even though we are almost a year overdue in enacting CNR, the fight continues with no resolution in sight.
[See: 10 Concerns Parents Have About Their Kids’ Health.]
But there is good news, too, and that’s what I want to share. I just came back from two events where healthy school food was front and center, and on the hearts and minds of those who attended.
The first was the Aspen Ideas Festival — arguably one of the premier think tanks addressing the state of the world — where I was on two panels with Sam Kass, President Obama’s former Senior Policy Advisor for Nutrition Policy. The panels explored both the challenges of serving kids healthy food in school as well as the successes of school districts across the country. The panels shared great information about how the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act has helped to make school food better. And panelists talked about why it’s so important when the next CNR does pass, that it contains strong policy that supports the health of our children, rather than simply protecting the profits of big corporations.
[See: 6 Healthy Foods Worth Splurging On.]
The second event was the Edible Schoolyard Intensive, hosted by Alice Waters’ Edible Schoolyard Project with support from the Chef Ann Foundation and funded in part by a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant. This three-day event focused entirely on feeding kids healthy food, from preparing delicious and nutritious meals in cafeterias, to teaching about gardens and kitchens, so children understand where good food comes from and how it’s produced. Attendees came from 10 states and included food service directors, chefs, teachers, school administrators, USDA staff, farm-to-school coordinators and nonprofit representatives.
Over the course of the three days, this diverse group of attendees went to seminars on everything from recipe development to implementing school gardens and cooking classes. Those in attendance also learned about how school food administrators, teachers and community activists can work together to ensure that all children have healthy and delicious food at school — and that no children ever have to go hungry. The culmination of the program was a strategic planning session where all of the groups brainstormed an action plan to implement change in their schools and districts for the coming school year. It was truly an impressive collaboration to witness!
[See: Dietary Guidelines Do-Over.]
So while our elected officials are fighting over feeding hungry kids, and while the Republican presidential nominee could roll back all of the healthy school food guidelines, there are bright lights of hope. Perhaps we can work together for the health of our kids, beginning by serving all of our children healthy school food.
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Bright Lights of Hope in the School Food World originally appeared on usnews.com