Positive Trends in School Food

October 01, 2008 | Written By: Healthy Schools Campaign

By Rochelle Davis, Founding Executive Director

I read with great interest a recent report
from the School Nutrition Association (SNA), the trade association for food service
directors, about some trends in school food service.  According to
SNA, their tenth annual survey found that “although rising food, labor and
indirect costs are significant challenges for school nutrition programs, healthy
food and beverage items continue to increase in popularity and participation is
increasing; nearly half of respondents report increased overall lunch and
breakfast average daily participation in the 2007-2008 school year.”

In essence, students are eating healthy food! After years of hearing that kids
will not eat healthy food, I want to stand on the roof tops and tell everyone what the research shows: “Kids
like healthy food!!” 

Of course the challenges facing school food programs
are enormous, primarily higher costs associated with food, labor and
energy. Next year when Congress considers the reauthorization of
the Child Nutrition Act, we have an important opportunity to make sure that
school food programs are properly funded so that this trend toward healthier
food and more participation continues!