Nutrition Unscrambled

National School Lunch Week

By Anna Shlachter, MS, RD, LDN
October 13th, 2011

While we reflect and celebrate National School Lunch Week, we should still consider the future. Yes, school lunches have come a long way since President Harry Truman signed the 1947 National School Lunch Act. He stated, “In the long view, no nation is healthier than its children, or more prosperous than its farmers.” This still holds true today but the problems over the years have changed so much.

Years later President Obama states “Children are America’s greatest treasure, and ensuring their health is one of our most important duties as parents, families, and community members. Our children’s continued ability to learn in the classroom, grow up healthy, and reach their full potential will depend on what we do now to secure their future.”

Schools have made changes to improve the programs but time, money, resources and even acceptance from the children have been active barriers. What can we do to help progress the school lunch program?

If you are a parent, I encourage you to go to lunch this week at your kid’s school. See how it has changed and what you would like to see. Also, every school has a wellness committee. As a health professional, your expertise is valuable and you can ensure schools can move forward not only for lunch but breakfast (including a great protein source) and summer lunch programs.



About

Nutrition Unscrambled  is written by nutrition experts with the Egg Nutrition Center, which is funded by the American Egg Board. It is monitored and maintained by the public relations agency of record. The mission of the Egg Nutrition Center is to be a credible source of nutrition and health science information and the acknowledged leader in research and education related to eggs. For more information, click here.

About the Bloggers

Mitch Kanter, Ph.D. is the Executive Director of the Egg Nutrition Center. For more information about
Mitch, click here.
Marcia Greenblum, MS, RD is the Senior Director, Nutrition Education at the Egg Nutrition Center. For more information about Marcia, click here.
Anna Shlachter, MS, RD, LDN is the Program Manager, Nutrition Research and Communications at the Egg Nutrition Center. For more information about Anna, click here.

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Disclaimer

All information provided within this blog is for informational and educational purposes only and it is not to be construed as medical advice or instruction. Please consult your physician or a qualified health professional on any matters regarding your health or before making changes to your diet or health behaviors.