The Child Nutrition Act
| Summer is here and another school year is over.While enjoying the break and hopefully the warm sunny weather this time of year, there is much work happening on the grass roots level to prepare for September 2009.
What is so important about this coming fall? The Child Nutrition Act which sets the standards for school lunch will be up for reauthorization. Better School Food will be collaborating with Slow Food USA on a nation wide campaign to get real food into schools. For more information on how you and your community can participate, see the article below. Dr. Susan Rubin Founder Better School Food |
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| For many years, advocating for better food in schools has been an uphill struggle. Many parents felt marginalized when they took a public stand against the excessive sugar, poor quality processed foods served in schools. Now the rest of the country may have caught up with us. The conversation has changed. Discussions around healthcare reform now routinely include food, and especially school food as possible solutions to our skyrocketing healthcare costs.Here’s what Slow Food USA President Josh Viertel has to say about school food: “The way we feed our kids is a reflection of our values. We cannot, in good conscience, continue to make our kids sick by feeding them cheap byproducts of an industrial food system, it is time to give kids real food: food that tastes good, is good for them, is good for the people who grow and prepare it, and is good for the planet.” Time for Lunch has a 3 fold plan. #1 Sign the Petition and pass it on to everyone (and we mean everyone) you know. Here’s the link to the petition: http://www.slowfoodusa.org/index.php/campaign/time_for_lunch/ #2 Contact your Legislators Pick up the phone, write a letter, have your kids write letters. This makes a huge impact and can really make a difference! Lobbyists for big food corporations, junk food and agribusiness may have the money, but we have the numbers of dedicated eaters who are now paying attention to what happens in DC. Those folks you elected to congress DO listen when you call. As few as 10 phone calls can change a vote on a key piece of legislation! Here’s the link to learn more about contacting your legislators: http://www.slowfoodusa.org/index.php/campaign/time_for_lunch/contact_your_legislators/ #3 Organize an EAT-IN on the National Day of Action, Monday September 7, 2009. An eat-in is a combination pot-luck and a peaceful protest! It’s a great opportunity for you to build community and support around school food issues. Slow Food makes it easy! They’ve got a great toolkit on their site and will offer support to help you set it up. Here’s the link to learn more about the National Day of Action: http://www.slowfoodusa.org/index.php/campaign/time_for_lunch/organize_an_eat_in/ Let us know about your participation in the Time for Lunch campaign! We want to share your stories with the rest of the Better School Food community. |