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Building a Better Future for Our Children
ICYMI, here's what happened last week at USDA:
For children across the country, the school year is just beginning. That means, back to books, backpacks and homework. And for over 30 million kids, it also means back to healthier school meals.
The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act has helped raise the nutritional value of the meals our kids eat at school with standards that promote healthy food during their most critical years. Today, more than 95% of schools are successfully meeting standards approved by nutritionists and students alike. A recent study found that kids are now eating 16% more vegetables and 23% more fruit at school — so the standards are working.
And people like them too.
According to a new survey released last week by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, 9 out of 10 people living in the U.S. agree that new updated standards are successfully providing children with nutritious meals in school cafeterias. That’s good news for kids, and good news for parents who trust that sending their kids to school in the morning means they are getting all the tools they need to be healthy, strong and ready to learn.
We’re continuing to share stories throughout the month of August of the many ways USDA works on the ground and with partners to create a healthier next generation of Americans. You can take part on Twitter too using #HealthierNextGen.
The Week in Pictures
Beautiful meals like this are what’s for lunch today and every day in schools across the country.
A students’ favorite: stir-fried ginger chicken with locally grown kale.
Nutritious school meals keep students healthy and ready to learn.
All images available in Flickr.
On the USDA Blog
Back to School, Back to Healthier School Meals
It’s hard to believe the start of the school year is right around the corner. It feels like just yesterday the final bell rang, and students exchanged their pens and pencils for swim trunks and sunglasses. But it’s time for students, teachers and other school staff to get ready for the year ahead, and that includes school nutrition professionals who will soon be tasked with serving healthy school meals to over 30 million students nationwide.
School Meals Seasoned with Cultural Flavors
The things that make our country so great and special can be found in the diversity of the people, their ideas, and their culture. One of the ways culture is expressed is through the foods we eat. Our nation’s school meals should be no exception. More than 30 million children receive at least one nutritious meal every school day through the USDA’s National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs.
USDA’s National Agricultural Library Launches New Historical Dietary Guidance Digital Collection
USDA’s National Agricultural Library (NAL) has launched a fascinating online collection of historical diet and nutrition publications issued by the U.S. Government. The Historical Dietary Guidance Digital Collection (HDGDC) combines more than 900 documents representing over 100 years of history. Through this digital collection, users can explore the evolution of American food, diet and nutrition, reflecting the most current science of the time. This unique resource is the first of its kind to offer comprehensive online access to historical government nutrition publications.
Reaching and Educating Minority Teen Mothers Online with eBaby4U
Mothers want what is best for their children, no matter the age of the mother and child. But what happens when teenage or socially disadvantaged mothers do not have the life experience or access to education to make the most informed decision? eBaby4U, a digital program run through Mississippi State University (MSU), is designed specifically to inform and support African-American teen mothers through an approach that is second-nature to youth: finding information online.
Community Eligibility: A Win-Win for Schools and Families in the Fight against Childhood Hunger
Every day, millions of students across the U.S. walk into school with stomachs growling because they haven’t had enough to eat either that morning or the night before and eagerly anticipate getting a school breakfast. Hours later, when the lunch bell rings, the same students jet to the front of the line to make sure they get enough food to tide them over until their next meal. For many students, school meals are not a luxury or a backup in case they forget to pack a meal; they are a lifeline.
USDA Training Benefits Child Nutrition Program, Increases Access to Healthy Meals
The primary mission of The Child Nutrition Program, at the Archdiocese of New York-Department of Education, is to ensure that healthy and nutritious meals are provided to our most needy students. Over 20,000 meals are served on a daily basis. Meals are served to our recipient agency schools throughout the Archdiocese of New York. As a result, we serve over 4-million meals between breakfast, lunch, after-school snack and fresh fruits and vegetables each year.
Farm to Preschool Helps Healthy Habits Take Root Early
“May I have more kale chips, please?” asked a four-year old preschooler during one of my first site visits as farm to school lead for the Food and Nutrition Service’s Western Region. The preschoolers I was visiting grew and harvested the kale themselves a few feet beyond their classroom door and were enjoying the crisp treat as a snack. At the time, the USDA Farm to School Program was just beginning to expand their support to K-12 schools. Since then, I have worked with school districts in bringing the farm to their cafeterias and classrooms.
Blending Up New Ways for Kids to Enjoy School Meals
Sometimes the right blend can change your perception. One of our industry research and promotion programs is remixing school meal items to help change students’ preconceptions and get them to eat healthy foods. The Mushroom Council helped out on this front in a number of ways. The Council, which is overseen by our agency – the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) – encouraged schools to use recipes that added mushrooms to their beef burgers. By reducing some of the beef and adding the hearty texture of mushrooms, schools were able to increase student consumption of healthy meals without compromising taste.
USDA TV
Read about us in the News
Poll Finds Most Back Healthy School Meals (NYTimes)
A majority of Americans support providing schoolchildren with healthy meals that consist of more fruits and vegetables and fewer foods high in calories and sodium, according to a national poll released on Tuesday by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. Legislation signed in 2010 by President Obama required schools to update their nutritional standards for the first time in 15 years. The law was championed by Michelle Obama, the first lady, as part of her “Let’s Move” campaign. According to the poll, 86 percent of Americans support the nutritional standards required by the law. Two-thirds of Americans say the nutritional quality of food served in public school cafeterias is excellent or good, which is up from 26 percent when a similar poll was conducted in 2010, before the new standards were adopted.
Tom Vilsack: Don't reverse progress on school lunch (AgWeek)
Parents trust their family pediatrician to help make informed choices about their children’s health — not politicians or special interests. That’s why when developing the first meaningful improvements to school meals in 30 years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture turned to the people who care the most for kids, including pediatricians and other respected health, nutrition and school meal professionals. For the past three years, kids have eaten healthier breakfasts, lunches and snacks at school, thanks to the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which improved the nutrition of foods and beverages served in cafeterias and sold in vending machines. Our kids are getting healthier as a result.
Summer Meals Program Works to Feed More Rural Kids (NPR)
At the beginning of the summer, the US Department of Agriculture announced its goal to serve 200 million meals to low-income children through the summer meals program, which is 13 million more than it served last year. The USDA is also highlighting several new ways of reaching kids in rural areas of the country. As the summer comes to a close, I spoke with US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack about the program’s growth and the USDA’s success in serving rural communities.
School lunches aren't what they used to be (News4Jax)
School lunches are not what they used to be. Gone are the days of rectangle pizza, and fried tater tots. Instead, school menus are required to have whole grain, low-fat and low-salt options and Duval County Schools are working with the company Chartwells on a new menu. Chef Nelson Toro is serving up something special. Brown rice topped with teriyaki chicken. Baked ziti is not far behind.
Healthy School Meal Standards Needed (Queens Gazette)
United States Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Congresswoman Grace Meng, Queens Borough President Melinda Katz and school nutrition advocates joined students at IS 5 The Walter Crowley Intermediate School summer meals program recently to highlight the need for healthy school meal standards and to provide more children with quality food throughout the summer. Also discussed was the fight against the latest efforts to weaken school nutrition standards, as well as the push to ensure students get fresh fruit and vegetables at school. Gillibrand also announced bipartisan legislation to provide more children with nutritious meals throughout the summer.
Female Farmers Revolutionising Agriculture (CNBC Africa)
Women were always historically seen as gatherers or providers. In our women's month feature the focus is on the role of female farmers as change agents for the African Agriculture space. Joining CNBC Africa is Krysta Harden, U.S Deputy Minister for Agriculture.
Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden—Second Harvest Recognized by White House for Tackling Child Hunger (Valdosta Today)
In late July, I was thrilled to visit with leaders from across southwest Georgia, including my hometown of Camilla, to discuss how USDA can support their work on the ground tackling issues relating to rural child poverty. In Georgia, the poverty rate is 19 percent, and for children, it’s a staggering 27 percent. In Dougherty County, nearly one in three residents live in poverty. This is why people like Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack, Secretary of Interior Jewell, and I are hitting the road—to hear first-hand what’s working in rural America and how we, the federal government, can help. I recently participated in a discussion at Albany State University, a Historically Black University in southwest Georgia, where I heard from dedicated individuals who are working tirelessly to address rural child poverty in their communities.
Federal effort helps develop farmers market in mid-Michigan (Associated Press)
A federal effort to support Native American communities has helped develop a farmers market in mid-Michigan. The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe got a $200,000 federal grant for the Native Farmers Market Pavilion in Mount Pleasant. A grand opening event is Tuesday for the project, which includes a pavilion, sidewalk and parking lot. Tribal council member Julius Peters says in a statement that the project "will help give us healthy choices right in our own community." A groundbreaking was held in June. The U.S. Department of Agriculture provided a Rural Business Enterprise Grant for the project.
Listen
Broadcast Date: Mon, August 17, 2015
As students head back to school, school meals are part of the preparation conversation. (Susan Carter, Dr. Katie Wilson, Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary and Becca Segal, Child Nutrition Associate, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities)
ACTUALITY: SCHOOL MEAL SUCCESS
Broadcast Date: Mon, August 17, 2015
Dr. Katie Wilson, Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary for FNS talks about the success of school meals.
ACTUALITY: SCHOOL MEALS COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY PROVISION
Broadcast Date: Mon, August 17, 2015
Dr. Katie Wilson, Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary for FNS explains the progress in the Community Eligibility Provision.
ACTUALITY: SCHOOL MEAL ASSISTANCE TO IMPOVERISHED SCHOOL
Broadcast Date: Mon, August 17, 2015
Dr. Katie Wilson, Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary for FNS talks about the efforts made to help schools with high poverty levels.
ACTUALITY: SCHOOL MEAL EXPECTATIONS
Broadcast Date: Mon, August 17, 2015
Dr. Katie Wilson, Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary for FNS tells what student have to look forward to school meals wise as they return to class this fall.
Share
Back to school, back to healthier school meals http://t.co/m3oUZH6hSO #HealthierNextGen pic.twitter.com/Vqm5JOsjMX
— Dept. of Agriculture (@USDA) August 17, 2015
95%+ of schools are meeting school meal standards that promote nutrition, reduce obesity & create a #HealthierNextGen pic.twitter.com/Or7WvKGSDo
— Dept. of Agriculture (@USDA) August 20, 2015
Good news! A new survey says 9 out of 10 Americans believe in creating a #healthiernextgen → http://t.co/xw00RF0J1A pic.twitter.com/nVXZAvoGAs
— Dept. of Agriculture (@USDA) August 19, 2015
New survey shows Americans overwhelmingly support efforts to keep school meals healthy → http://t.co/wrbz2LL9fz #KeepKidsHealthy-Deb
— Let's Move! (@letsmove) August 18, 2015
73% of ppl say it's important that schools serve healthy food. Let's create a #HealtherNextGen http://t.co/xw00REJ8a2 pic.twitter.com/3YUONAw2J4
— Dept. of Agriculture (@USDA) August 19, 2015
Community Eligibility: A win for schools & families in fight vs child hunger http://t.co/lkaG4tMg83 #HealthierNextGen pic.twitter.com/o0Drp17ZYg
— Dept. of Agriculture (@USDA) August 19, 2015
