National School Lunch Program

I am passing this information along because it is the right thing to do. Please do what you can to endorse healthy school lunches. It took a total of 2 minutes and the message went to my House and Sentae reps at the same time.


More than 31 million children participate in the National School Lunch Program. Many consume as many as half their daily calories at school. Helping schools serve real food may be the most promising way to end child obesity - but it simply can't happen unless Congress invests in healthier food in the upcoming Child Nutrition Act.


Will you send an email to your legislators to help schools serve real food? 
If so, go to:
http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5986/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=828

As an organization, Slow Food gets involved in policy when we see big problems with America's food system that can only be solved if citizens speak up. Teaching children to make good food choices will require hard work from parents, schools, non-profits, the private sector and government. But an enormously important step is to ensure that the National School Lunch Program isn't undermining those efforts, and is instead serving kids the healthy food they need to grow up into able, productive adults.


On a conference call this week, USDA Secretary Vilsack said that the most important thing citizens can do to get healthier food into their local schools is to urge Congress to pass a strong Child Nutrition Act. This issue has broad public support, he said, but it isn't appearing in the national media - so we need to make sure Congress gets the message.


That's where you come in. Now that Michelle Obama is leading the charge, Congress will begin updating the Child Nutrition Act this month. If legislators hear support from citizens back home, they'll have the opportunity to invest in healthier food, strengthen nutrition standards, and equip schools to buy local and cook meals from scratch.


So please take a minute to email your legislators today.


Thank you,
Gordon Jenkins
Advocacy Manager
Slow Food USA