In 2010, our fight to improve children's health surpassed a milestone with the passage of the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act (HHFK) and the implementation of first lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" campaign.
After much work in Congress and with one stroke of President Obama's pen, we laid the foundation for providing healthier food options in schools, taking a giant step toward making the health of American children our number one priority.
The success of our efforts have been crystal clear; in more than 90 percent of American schools, whole grains and vegetables have replaced foods saturated in fat, laden with sugar, and filled with salt.
In school cafeterias across the nation, pizza has decreased in calories, chicken is now baked instead of fried, and biscuits have been swapped-out for whole-wheat rolls. While these substitutions may seem simple and common sense to some, they are key examples of the progress we've made towards bettering the health and well-being of our children.
But now, four years later, our progress is in danger of being reversed. Opponents of our progress want to give out waivers that will no longer require cafeterias to abide by the food standards of HHFK. They believe that because 1 million kids don't like the healthier options at school, all 37 million children who participate in the school nutrition program should be denied a chance at a healthier future.
From the front pages of the New York Times and the Washington Post, to blogs and Facebook, their words of opposition attack the sound advice of doctors, educators, nutritionists, and even the first lady, who all agree on one thing: these provisions work!
Although HHFK affects children across the nation, it has played an especially important role in the lives of kids from low-income families and rural areas. Unfortunately, proper nutrition has become a luxury; it's too expensive for many families to eat well.
This reality is particularly apparent in Georgia, where 29 percent of children struggle with hunger and 896,000 children are dependent on free or reduced priced school lunch. When families can barely afford to put food on the table, adhering to daily nutrition recommendations is often an afterthought.
Combined with the fact that a majority of low-income families live in food deserts, which are plagued by an abundance of fast food restaurants and a scarcity of grocery stores, accessing fruits and vegetables is almost impossible. Due to these environmental and economic factors, schools tend to be the only source of a well- balanced, nutritious meal for low-income and rural children.
Providing healthy food options in schools sets children on the track to lead long, healthy lives. In a country where the number of children affected by diabetes, heart disease, and obesity is rising, providing a well-rounded, nutritious, and balanced diet will work to counteract these epidemics.
But healthy food initiatives not only ensure longevity; they also build the foundation for better outcomes and performance in the classroom.
Studies conducted by Oxford and Essex Universities found that when students receive a nutritious meal in school, classroom participation and tests scores increase. In the long run, giving kids healthy meals today will produce successful adults tomorrow, who are prepared to be productive members of the workforce and propel the American economy forward.
This Congress has promises to keep. The health of our children is on the line. We must act now to uphold the nutrition standards of HHFK. They are working for our kids and we owe them the best future possible. Reported by Huffington Post 9 hours ago.
After much work in Congress and with one stroke of President Obama's pen, we laid the foundation for providing healthier food options in schools, taking a giant step toward making the health of American children our number one priority.
The success of our efforts have been crystal clear; in more than 90 percent of American schools, whole grains and vegetables have replaced foods saturated in fat, laden with sugar, and filled with salt.
In school cafeterias across the nation, pizza has decreased in calories, chicken is now baked instead of fried, and biscuits have been swapped-out for whole-wheat rolls. While these substitutions may seem simple and common sense to some, they are key examples of the progress we've made towards bettering the health and well-being of our children.
But now, four years later, our progress is in danger of being reversed. Opponents of our progress want to give out waivers that will no longer require cafeterias to abide by the food standards of HHFK. They believe that because 1 million kids don't like the healthier options at school, all 37 million children who participate in the school nutrition program should be denied a chance at a healthier future.
From the front pages of the New York Times and the Washington Post, to blogs and Facebook, their words of opposition attack the sound advice of doctors, educators, nutritionists, and even the first lady, who all agree on one thing: these provisions work!
Although HHFK affects children across the nation, it has played an especially important role in the lives of kids from low-income families and rural areas. Unfortunately, proper nutrition has become a luxury; it's too expensive for many families to eat well.
This reality is particularly apparent in Georgia, where 29 percent of children struggle with hunger and 896,000 children are dependent on free or reduced priced school lunch. When families can barely afford to put food on the table, adhering to daily nutrition recommendations is often an afterthought.
Combined with the fact that a majority of low-income families live in food deserts, which are plagued by an abundance of fast food restaurants and a scarcity of grocery stores, accessing fruits and vegetables is almost impossible. Due to these environmental and economic factors, schools tend to be the only source of a well- balanced, nutritious meal for low-income and rural children.
Providing healthy food options in schools sets children on the track to lead long, healthy lives. In a country where the number of children affected by diabetes, heart disease, and obesity is rising, providing a well-rounded, nutritious, and balanced diet will work to counteract these epidemics.
But healthy food initiatives not only ensure longevity; they also build the foundation for better outcomes and performance in the classroom.
Studies conducted by Oxford and Essex Universities found that when students receive a nutritious meal in school, classroom participation and tests scores increase. In the long run, giving kids healthy meals today will produce successful adults tomorrow, who are prepared to be productive members of the workforce and propel the American economy forward.
This Congress has promises to keep. The health of our children is on the line. We must act now to uphold the nutrition standards of HHFK. They are working for our kids and we owe them the best future possible. Reported by Huffington Post 9 hours ago.