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FEDERAL LEGISLATION
Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act
The "Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act" (CNR) provides funding and regulations for school meals, after school snacks, summer meal programs, and food for pregnant women and their young children. While it was set to expire on September 30, 2009, the health care bill took precedence. Once the health care effort is finished, the CNR will finally be taken up for reauthorization. Each time the bill is reauthorized there is an opportunity to strengthen it by contacting your elected officials. Advocating for a healthy CNR is the most effective way to advocate for reform since this bill regulates more than 30 million lunches and 10 million breakfasts served every school day. Read the latest version (2004) of the law.
We are part of a strong coalition called the NYC Alliance for Child Nutrition Authorization. Check out their website for a much more thorough review of the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act.
Please join the New York Coalition for Healthy School Food in advocating that the following be addressed in the upcoming reauthorization of the CNR:
1. Increased funding for meals. At least $1 additional for each lunch and $.50 additional for each breakfast. Tie the increases in funding to positive changes and not to the meals in general, to ensure that the additional monies are used to increase the quality of the meals.
2. Mandate a healthy plant-based entrée option at each lunch. Almost all lunches are either meat- or cheese-based. Animal products are the only source of cholesterol in the diet and the primary source of saturated fat. Cheese-based entrees are loaded with sodium. Plant-based entrees contain no cholesterol, are low in saturated fat (and can easily be low in total fat), and are high in fiber and phytonutrients.
3. Mandate that a non-dairy, calcium-enriched beverage be offered, and be fully reimbursed. Currently, schools may offer this with a parents or doctors note, but since schools are not reimbursed for such an option beyond the cost of reimbursement for cow’s milk, they are not required to. The non-dairy beverage option should be available to all children without any note, especially since 60% of the world's population is lactose intolerant, and this condition disproportionately affects people of color. Policy that mandates offering cow’s milk to children who can not digest it is racially biased.
4. Fundamental changes need to be made so that federal tax dollars stop providing reimbursement for foods to children which are now considered to be “convincing” carcinogens. We can not expect school food service directors to provide the healthiest meals when they are reimbursed for processed meats, including hot dogs, sausage, and ham. Federal tax dollars should not fund commodity foods which contribute to disease.
Please contact your US Senator and Congressperson to advocate for the above points. Click here for a sample letter which you can use or modify.
New York State Residents, send letters to:
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Senator Charles Schumer
Your US Congressperson
If you live outside of New York State, you can find your US Senators here:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
If you live outside of New York State, you can find your Congressperson here:
https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
School Lunch Protection Act
Working together as a member of the National Alliance for Nutrition and Activity, the New York Coalition for Healthy School Food supports passage of the School Lunch Protection Act. Efforts are being made to incorportae the School Lunch Protection Act into the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act (see above)
The proposed Child Nutrition Promotion and School Lunch Protection Act of 2009 would require setting and then following national nutritional standards for foods sold at school outside school lunch/breakfast ("a la carte" or "competitive" foods). It would save local nutrition wellness committees an awful lot of work and make sourcing foods that meet the standards much easier for schools and school lunch directors.
STATE LEGISLATION
New York Coalition for Healthy School Food has worked closely with the NYS Governor Paterson’s office to advance New York State legislation to improve all food in K-12 schools. Over the last several years legislation has been voted on but not passed, and all versions have contained significant compromises that benefit the food industry.
NYCHSF believes that the following are critical to the success of state legislation to improve school foods:We do this by:
 Offer a whole foods plant-based (bean, lentil, tofu) entrée each day as a healthy option Offer an enriched non-dairy milk option to any students who request it Eliminate artificial ingredients from meals and all other foods offered in schools (artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, and artificial sweeteners) Eliminate all added transfats Eliminate all deep or flash fried products For grain products, offer only 100% whole grains Reduce added oils and sugars.- Focus on whole plant-based foods including fresh vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains
- Offer nutrition education which is not influenced by the food industry and is science based
- Restrict competitive foods to only fruits, vegetables, legumes, all natural trail mixes, and other health supporting items
- Encourage farm to school programs with economic incentives
- Provide reimbursements that provide enough funding so cafeterias are not dependent on a la carte sales
While schools currently do not receive nearly enough funding to provide meals that meet these requirements, we should strive to do what is best for children, and the recommendations above reflect current nutrition knowledge. We must make children’s health a priority. Since habits are developed early in life, and because schools are the place where children go to learn, it is imperative that schools set the best example and serve only health supporting foods.
Take Action:
There is currently no movement on NY State legislation to improve school food. We are working to get legislation reintroduced. Contact Governor Paterson's office to request legistation that addresses the above points.
LOCAL ACTION
While federal and state legislation would help to prevent massive hours of efforts across the state and the country, as of yet meaningful legislation has not been passed to address meals and competitive foods. At the local level, you can get involved in your schools Local Wellness Policy effort.
Each school that participates in the federal school meal program must have a federally mandated Local Wellness Policy, which includes ongoing efforts to ensure implementation. Many schools have committees that address the policies mandates, while many other schools do not. Creating change in school only happens because people like you who care get involved.
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Ted Barnett, MD, makes a statement of concern at the 2008 NYS PTA Convention
Stepping Up to A Healthier Harlem Conference Attendee signs up for the NYCHSF email list
Real Food Display at Baum Forum Conference |
