This Month, Speak Up for Healthy Meals!

March 17, 2014 | Written By: Healthy Schools Campaign

Urge Congress to support healthy school food in March, which is National Nutrition Month

Did you know that March is National Nutrition Month? Our friends at the Pew Charitable Trusts have an important message: Let’s remind our members of Congress that healthy school meals truly matter.

Rates of childhood obesity more than tripled over the past three decades, and many students consume up to half their daily calories through school food. Providing nutritious options throughout the school day is important to supporting student health and academic success!

Nationwide, 9 out of 10 schools are already serving healthy school lunches that meet updated nutrition standards—a tremendous achievement! This means more young people are getting the fruits, vegetables and whole grains they need within reasonable portions. But there is still work to do, including big steps forward on snack foods. Research shows that stronger school nutrition policies—ones that look beyond just the lunch line—positively affect children’s health over time.

During National Nutrition Month, urge your member of Congress to support nutritious food throughout the school day so that millions of students have access to safer and healthier options.

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Through HSC’s Cooking up Change contest, teams of student chefs around the country are adding their voices to the conversation about school food. Earlier this month, it was student chefs in Little Rock! Watch a clip from their recent television appearance. Next week, more students are Cooking up Change in Winston-Salem!