Oct. 10-16: President highlights importance of federal meal programs; lauds First Lady and Let's Move!National School Lunch Week 2010 began on Sunday and runs through Oct. 16. In a proclamation issued to observe it, President Obama maintains that healthy school lunches are crucial for ending hunger, eliminating childhood obesity, and boosting academic achievement. He applauds the work of First Lady Michelle Obama with the Let's Move! campaign, noting the creation of the Chefs Move to Schools program, giving a shout-out to the HealthierUS School Challenge, and highlighting the work of USDA's Farm to School Team to bring fresh, nutritious foods to schools. But the President doesn't mention that the reauthorization of the legislation that sets the standards for and funds the National School Lunch Program has run into problems with lawmakers. (Above: President Obama greets DC elementary school kids at the White House)
About 31 million children receive free or reduced price lunches under the National School Lunch Program, with about 11 million also receiving breakfast, and the President's proclamation cites the importance of the program to support the aggressive White House efforts to re-tool America's educational system.
"This week provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the critical role the National School Lunch Program plays in promoting the health and well-being of tomorrow's leaders," President Obama writes in his proclamation. "This groundbreaking program has prevented hunger and promoted education by enabling our young people to have access to safe, balanced, and affordable meals at school. It has also supported their development, encouraged their learning capacity, and instilled life-long healthy habits."
The President cites eliminating childhood obesity as the other main reason the program exists.
"When one in three children in this country is overweight or obese, we all have a responsibility to make sure our kids receive good nutrition at school and learn to make healthy choices early in life," President Obama writes.
In his proclamation, the President notes the work of USDA's Farm To School Team to bring healthier foods to American schools.
"To provide more fruits, vegetables, and other fresh and nutritious foods for school meals, the USDA is also working to develop farm-to-school partnerships with local farmers, States, localities, tribal authorities, school districts, and community organizations," President Obama writes.
On Tuesday, Senior Policy Adviser for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass and Deputy Agriculture Secretary Kathleen Merrigan will mark National School Lunch Week with a visit to a DC elementary school to celebrate DC Farm to School Week.
The President also notes the Let's Move! partnership with USDA for the HealthierUS School Challenge, a USDA program that gives cash incentives to schools for best practices in healthy food sourcing, nutrition education, and fitness. In September, Mrs. Obama announced a new goal for schools enrolled in the Challenge.
"We’ve set a goal of doubling – doubling – the number of schools that participate in the Healthier US Schools Challenge by June of 2011," Mrs. Obama said during a speech at Brock Elementary School in Slidell, Louisiana. "And we want to add an additional one thousand schools in each of the following two years as well."
Child nutrition legislation is up in the air
The President makes no mention in the proclamation of the recent failure of the US House of Representatives to vote on the child nutrition legislation that will reauthorize the National School Lunch Program, and dramatically improve its standards. Members of the House left Washington on September 30 for an Autumn recess without voting on the bill, despite much public encouragement from both the President and First Lady (the legislation passed by unanimous consent in the Senate on August 4). Over the past year, the President has publicly criticized Republicans for blocking legislation he deems crucial for America, but he couldn't do that with the child nutrition legislation, because it also had a bloc of Dems who were against it. More than 100 lawmakers signed a letter in July to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to complain about funding--so the failure to vote in September couldn't be cited as just one more example of Republican obstructionism. The current child nutrition legislation has been extended on an interim basis.
The President ends the proclamation by showering praise on all those who are working on child nutrition issues.
"We also recognize the talent and dedication of all the food service professionals, educators, program administrators, and parents whose time and energy help ensure America's students have the healthy food necessary to grow and succeed," President Obama writes.
The full text of the President's proclamation:
No child should have to learn on an empty stomach. Nearly 65 years ago, America made protecting the health of our children a national priority by developing the National School Lunch Program. This groundbreaking program has prevented hunger and promoted education by enabling our young people to have access to safe, balanced, and affordable meals at school. It has also supported their development, encouraged their learning capacity, and instilled life-long healthy habits. This year, during National School Lunch Week, we recognize the vital importance of this historic program, and we recommit to serving meals that will contribute to the health and well-being of a new generation.
With more than 31 million children participating in the National School Lunch Program and more than 11 million in the School Breakfast Program, good nutrition at school is more vital than ever. When one in three children in this country is overweight or obese, we all have a responsibility to make sure our kids receive good nutrition at school and learn to make healthy choices early in life. This is an essential part of First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move!" initiative, which is a nationwide campaign dedicated to ending the epidemic of childhood obesity within a generation so that children can reach adulthood at a healthy weight.
To foster school environments that encourage physical activity and nourishing diets, "Let's Move!" is partnering with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to increase the number of schools that participate in the HealthierUS School Challenge. The Challenge establishes rigorous standards for nutritional quality in school food, participation in meal programs, physical activity, and nutrition education -- all key components that make for healthy, active children.
Chefs across America are also helping create nutritious and appealing school meals. Over 1,900 have volunteered to offer their unique talents and knowledge of food and nutrition to "Chefs Move to Schools," an initiative that pairs chefs with interested schools in their communities. Together, chefs and school administrators are creating wholesome meals while teaching young people about nutrition and making balanced, healthy choices. I invite all Americans to visit LetsMove.gov to learn more about this initiative and other strategies to raise a healthier generation of kids.
To provide more fruits, vegetables, and other fresh and nutritious foods for school meals, the USDA is also working to develop farm-to-school partnerships with local farmers, States, localities, tribal authorities, school districts, and community organizations. The USDA Farm to School Team is helping to provide quality foods in school menus, to increase markets for local farms, and to teach young people of all ages about the source of the food they enjoy. To enable school cafeterias across our Nation to prepare these healthy foods, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funded the purchase of new food service equipment such as salad bars, and the replacement of aging or outdated appliances such as deep fryers.
This week provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the critical role the National School Lunch Program plays in promoting the health and well-being of tomorrow's leaders. We also recognize the talent and dedication of all the food service professionals, educators, program administrators, and parents whose time and energy help ensure America's students have the healthy food necessary to grow and succeed.
The Congress, by joint resolution of October 9, 1962 (Public Law 87-780), as amended, has designated the week beginning on the second Sunday in October each year as "National School Lunch Week," and has requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of this week.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim the week of October 10 through October 16, 2010, as National School Lunch Week. I call upon all Americans to join the dedicated individuals who administer the National School Lunch Program in appropriate activities that support the health and well-being of our Nation's children.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
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*Photo by Pete Souza/White House
