WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Dave Loebsack introduced legislation that will help fight childhood obesity. The Healthy Food for Healthy Schools Act will help ensure that school meals, and foods purchased by USDA and provided to schools, are of the highest nutritional quality.

“The Healthy Foods for Healthy Schools Act will help provide children with foods that are high quality while enhancing the USDA Foods program,” said Congressman Loebsack. “During the current economic downturn, it is critical that we redouble efforts to make sure that our children do not fall through the cracks, and that we continue to make strides towards keeping our children healthy and well.”

USDA has taken steps towards improving the nutritional value in the foods offered through the USDA Foods program. However, far too many children are still not meeting the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendations for total fat, saturated fat, sodium, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
 
The Healthy Food for Healthy Schools Act will ensure that USDA continues to make improvements in the foods offered through the USDA Foods program. This program provides foods to schools that are often lower in cost than similar products schools could purchase on their own. The bill will ensure that the foods being disseminated through the program are healthy and nutritious.

The Healthy Food for Healthy Schools Act streamlines the USDA Foods program in the following ways:  

•    Improving products and practices by distributing models for healthy meals
•    Improving purchasing and processing so that the widest variety of healthy foods are used in school nutrition programs
•    Improving school access to nutritional information necessary for healthy menu planning

This bill is endorsed by the American Dental Association, American Diabetes Association, American Dietetic Association, American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, American Institute for Cancer Research, American Public Health Association, National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, National Association of School Nurses, National PTA, National WIC Association, and the YMCA of the USA, in addition to 85 other organizations.