school lunches on the verge of a change
As my fellow blogger Nate would say: “Internet, it’s a good day.” And yes it is a good day for the food justice movement.
After over a year of hard work by organizations, parents, and people who care about the health of kids — months spent organizing, pressuring elected officials, signing and circulating letters and petitions, speaking up, blogging, and meeting with representatives . . .
On December 2, the 2010 Child Nutrition Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives!
The Act, which is officially known as the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, already passed the Senate in August, and it now heads to President Obama to be signed into law. This is a great accomplishment and we congratulate everyone who worked to get this done! Special big-ups to: Kristen Mancinelli and everyone in the New York City Alliance for Child Nutrition, and the National Farm to School Network.
So what does this act do? A lot actually.
* It increases the amount of money schools receive from the federal government to reimburse them for school lunches. The increase? 6 cents per meal. Less than what school food organizations originally pushed for, but it still makes a difference.
* Food sold outside of cafeterias, in vending machines for example, will now to subject to the same nutrition standards of food sold in cafeterias. Will this bring the end to junk food sold in school? We hope so . . .
* The Act requires $50 million for Farm to School programs around the country who work with farms to bring fresh food directly into schools.
* Lots of kids get subsidized lunches during the day, but go hungry in the morning, after school and during the summer. The act provides support and funding to increase kid’s access to food outside of school hours.
There are many exciting things about this victory — first, that it brings together all the issues of food justice: supporting farms, increasing access, and prioritizing healthy food. And second, it is also great to see the hard work, dedication and agitation of all these organizations and people pay off. It’s a good day, good day.
peace out!
