05 Sep Slow Food USA’s Time for Lunch on September 7

How can children learn and grow to their full potential when the food pictured here is what we feed them in schools? They simply can’t.

This fall, the Child Nutrition Act is up for reauthorization. This Act provides the governance for several child nutrition programs, including the National School Lunch Program. The National School Lunch Program supplies 30 million school children with lunch every school day. For many of these children, the meals they receive at school provide the majority of their nutrition during the school year.

The upcoming reauthorization process provides the opportunity to make postive changes for both children and the environment. The guidelines in the Child Nutrition Act can be amended to include firm guidelines for healthy, nutritious food for our children rather than the aptly named and all too available junk food. The already-created-but-never-funded Farm to Schools Programs can also, finally, receive funding to purchase food produced locally, thus reducing carbon emissions caused by transportation and ensuring children have access to produce while it is still tasty and full of nutrients.

As you finalize your plans for this holiday weekend, think about joining a Slow Food USA’s Time For Lunch Eat-In on Monday, September 7, 2009. To find an Eat-In near you, visit the searchable map. Or you can host your own Eat-In. Or sign the petition to get real food in schools. Check out the full policy platform for the Time For Lunch campaign to learn more.

Does your child’s school serve real food? Does it have a garden? What do you like best about the way your school’s food policies? What would you like to change?

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