School Lunch: Food for Thought

School Lunch Food for Thought The U.S. National School Lunch Program serves 31.5 Million = 5,500,000,000 children every day. Lunches served annually. (1) A typical student will consume 4,000 school lunches between grades K-12.(1) School districts are reimbursed $2.68 for every meal served to a child who qualifies for free lunch. After overhead cost, schools are left with $1 for which to purchase food.() The USDA procures meat for schools by the usual FACT: standards of government In the past, for chicken, the USDA contracts: the lowest bidder wins.(4) has supplied schools with thousands of tons of U S DA meat from old birds that might other- wise go to compost GRADE or pet food.(4) Most schools can only afford to serve the highly processed foods that impede children's health and keep them from performing well in school.) Math Math C- A+ Vs. Obesity Trends Among Children & Adolescents: United States, 1963 -2008(") 20 6-11 years 10 12-19 years 2-5 years ol 1976 - 1999 - 2003 - 2007 - 1971 - 1974 1963 - 1988 - 2004 2001 - 2005- 2002 2006 1965 1966 - 2000 2008 1980 1994 1970 YEARS Children Daily Recommended Calories vs. Actual Calories Consumed(10) (11) FACT: Recommended Actual 3,000 1 in 3 Lifetime risk Boys 2,500 for a boy born in the U.S. in 2000 being 2,000 diagnosed with 1,500 diabetes. 3) Recommended Daily Calories 1,000 2-5 6 - 11 12 - 19 Ages in years ...the caloric equivalent to Over a year the typical teenage boy will consume an average of 790 146,000 calories over the USDA recommended limit.(10)(11)... DONUTS!(14) FACT: - Recommended Actual 1 in 2 Lifetime 3,000 risk for an African- Girls 2,500 American or 2,000 Hispanic girl born in 2000 being 1,500 diagnosed with Recommended Daily Calories 1,000 diabetes. 3) 2-5 6 - 11 12 - 19 Ages in years ..the caloric equivalent to Over a year the typical teenage girl will consume an average of 73,000 calories over the USDA recommended limit10)(11) */ 486CI cans of soda!(14) Pay a little now or It costs approximately a lot later? $6,000 to feed a child lunch during the entire tenure of their K-12 education, but it costs our health care system and our taxes approximately $175,000 per adult, for illnesses related to poor OR childhood nutrition.(13) (15) Taking Action: Slow Food's Time for Lunch Program (8) The Slow Food movement suggests schools pro- TIME for LUNCH vide students with healthier foods from local farmers, teach students about the path from farm to fork, and instill healthy eating habits that can last a lifetime. Time for Lunch is pushing Congress to pass The Child Nutrition Promotion & Get involved by visiting School Lunch Protection Act of 2009 www.slowfoodusa.com to invest 1 billion per year to help schools serve healthier food. Michelle Obama's Let's Move Campaign(5) (6) The Let's Move campaign is a comprehensive, collaborative, and communtiy-oriented LET'S MOVEL initiative addressing childhood obesity. Combined with the efforts of the HealthierUS School Challenge (HUSSC) they are working together to improve the health of the Nation's children by promoting healthier school environments. What's happening now... The USDA has Food suppliers More than 75% of school employees have agreed to decrease sugar, partnered with schools and the are committed to private sector to fat and salt reaching the goals set double the within 5 years; by the HealthierUS while increasing whole grains and produce over number of schools Schools Challenge. that meet the HealthierUS Schools Challenge. the next 10 years. Get involved by visiting www.letsmove.gov (1) http://www.ecoliteracy.org/sites/default/files/uploads/rethinking_school_lunch_guide.pdf (2) http://www.slowfoodusa.org/downloads/campaigns/time_for_lunch-factsheet%282%29.pdf (3) http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090729121708.htm (4) http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2009-12-08-school-lunch-standards_N.htm (5) http://www.letsmove.gov/healthierschoolfood.php (6) http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/healthierus/vision.html (7) http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/obesity_child_07 08/obesity_child_07_08.htm (8) http://www.slowfoodusa.org/index.php/campaign/time_for_lunch/ (9) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/20/are-school-lunches-a-nati_n_544077.html (10) http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhanes/databriefs/calories.pdf (11) http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3033999 (12) “National School Lunch Program," USDA: Child Nutrition Webpage: FNS Online, February 2002. (13) “Nutrition and the Health of Young People: Fact Sheet," USDA:CDC, June 1997. (14) http://www.calorie-counter.net Calories PERCENT %24 Calories %24