Letter to the Editor

Concerned about nutrition act

Sunday, September 26, 2010

To the Editor:

Congress will soon vote on child nutrition legislation that could significantly improve school lunches.

As a dietitian, I am extremely concerned because I heard that the House version of the new Child Nutrition Act may be rejected for a much weaker, stripped-down Senate version.

Unlike the Senate bill, the House bill -- the Improving Nutrition for America's Children Act, H.R. 5504 -- gives schools the resources necessary to provide all children with healthy options.

It includes an innovative pilot program to introduce more plant-based foods and provides more funding for farm-to-school programs.

It extends nutrition standards to all food sold in schools and provides vital funding for nutrition education.

The House bill also goes much further toward providing low-income children with access to nutritious meals for breakfast, after school, on weekends, and during the summer.

The Senate bill would make it harder for children to choose healthy food options at school.

We must urge Congress to pass the superior House bill, H.R. 5504. Take action at http://HealthySchoolLunches.org.

Sincerely,

Susan Levin, M.S., R.D.,

Director of Nutrition Education,

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine,

Washington, D.C.