Senate Majority Leader Seeks Passage Of Child Nutrition Bill Before Recess

By: Deborah Cahill

Mike Lillis wrote in a blog for The Hill (7/28), “Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) said this week that Democrats are hoping to pass a child nutrition bill before lawmakers leave town for the August recess. The $4.5 billion proposal, sponsored by Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), would expand eligibility for school meal programs; establish nutrition standards for all foods sold in schools; and provide a 6-cent increase for each school lunch to help cafeterias serve healthier meals.”

As a secondary educator for over 25 years,  I can say unequivocally that the amount of overweight teens is appalling.  This is actually the first generation whose life expectancy is less than their parents!  The main reason for this is that there is a virtual plethora of unhealthy “fast foods” and so generation by generation we become more and more unhealthy.  The school cafeteria is a joke if you are looking for healthy, appealing choices.  One month of eating school lunches and I personally gained 10 lbs from all of the starches and other unhealthy choices.  That was enough for me.  I now stay away from most cafeteria food and substitute with fruits, salads and anything which is pasta or starches.  Schools are just now starting to take soda out of their vending machines and substitute with juices, water and other healthy choices.  We are seeing a rise of juvenile diabetes and other life threatening diseases.  Maybe this bill will finally begin to support the health of our youth.  Think about it;  if this can make a difference then not only will our children become healthier and live longer, but we will enjoy lower health insurance bills as well as medical bills.  Of course, this works best by example, and so we all need to change or at least improve what we buy and have in our homes, as well as limiting our childrens’ intake of fast food, junk food and anything in general which could contribute to childhood obesity or poor health.

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