"Food Day is October 24 and will continue to be in the years to
come. Food Day seeks to bring together Americans from all walks of
life, parents, teachers, and students; health professionals, community
organizers, and local officials; chefs, school lunch providers, and eaters of
all stripes to push for healthy, affordable food produced in a sustainable,
humane way. We will work with people around the country to create thousands of
events in homes, schools, churches, farmers markets, city halls, and state
capitals."
Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Representative Rosa DeLauro
(D-CT) are the Honorary Co-Chairs for Food Day 2011, and the day is sponsored
by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the nonprofit watchdog group
that has led successful fights for food labeling, better nutrition, and safer
food since 1971. Like CSPI, Food Day will be people-powered and does not accept
funding from government or corporations—though restaurants, supermarkets, and
others are certainly encouraged to observe Food Day in their own ways.
Become a Food Label Detective An Educated Consumer has the Tools to Make Wise Decisions
1. Reduce diet-related disease by promoting safe, healthy foods. 2. Support sustainable farms and limit subsidies to big agribusiness. 3. Expand access to food and alleviate hunger. 4. Protect the environment and animals by reforming factory farms. 5. Promote health by curbing junk-food marketing to kids. 6. Support fair conditions for food and farm workers.
A special thank you to Marcela Lucena, Erik Bustillo, and the Florida International University,
Student Dietetic Association for helping spread the word about Food Day.
World Food Day was established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in November 1979. FAO celebrates World Food Day each year on October 16th, the day on which the Organization was founded in 1945.
“FOOD PRICES – FROM CRISIS TO STABILITY” has been chosen as the 2011 World Food Day theme to shed some light on this trend and what can be done to mitigate its impact on the most vulnerable.
WORLD FOOD DAY 2011
On World Food Day 2011, let us look seriously at what causes swings in food prices, and do what needs to be done to reduce their impact on the weakest members of global society.
The objectives of World Food Day are to:
*Encourage attention to agricultural food production and to stimulate national, bilateral, multilateral and non-governmental efforts to this end;
*Encourage economic and technical cooperation among developing countries;
*Encourage the participation of rural people, particularly women and the least privileged categories, in decisions and activities influencing their living conditions;
*Heighten public awareness of the problem of hunger in the world;
*Promote the transfer of technologies to the developing world; and
*Strengthen international and national solidarity in the struggle against hunger, malnutrition and poverty and draw attention to achievements in food and agricultural development.
"In the long view, no nation is
healthier than its children,
or more prosperous than its farmers."
- President Harry Truman, on signing the
1946 National School Lunch Act.
Through the Years
The National School Lunch Program was created in 1946 when President
Truman signed the National School Lunch Act into law. The National
School Lunch Program is a federal nutrition assistance program. Through
the years, the program has expanded to include the School Breakfast
Program, Snack Program, Child and Adult Care Feeding Program and the
Summer Food Service Program. In 1962, Congress designated the week
beginning on the second Sunday in October each year as "National School
Lunch Week."
The video below looks at the school lunch program from the late
1930’s to the present day and includes President Obama signing the
Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. One
can see from the photographs some of the changes in the foods
provided. There is an increase in whole grains, fruits, vegetables,
lean protein and lowfat dairy. (Part
of the video has clips from a film produced by the USDA in the
mid-60s.)
2011 Theme:“School
Lunch – Let’s Grow Healthy”
Recognized as
the authority on school nutrition, the SNA has been
advancing the availability, quality and acceptance of school
nutrition programs as an integral part of education since
1946. The School Nutrition Association is a national,
nonprofit professional organization. Mission.To
advance good nutrition for all children.
National Farm to School Month
Farm to School is broadly defined as any
program that connects schools (K-12) and local farms with
the goal of serving healthy meals in school cafeterias,
improving student nutrition, providing agriculture, health,
nutrition education, and supporting local and regional
farmers. Farm to School programs exist in all 50 states, but
since Farm to School is a grassroots movement, programs are
as diverse as the communities they serve.
The National School Lunch Program
(NSLP) is a federally
assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit
private schools and residential child care institutions. It
provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to
children each school day. The program was established under
the National School Lunch Act, signed by President Harry
Truman in 1946.
Kids Eat Rightyour source for
scientifically-based health and nutrition information you
can trust to help your child grow healthy. As a parent or
caretaker you need reliable resources and you can find them
here, backed by the expertise of nutrition professionals.
Choose MyPlate.
The
website features practical information and tips to help
Americans build healthier diets.
Let’s Moveis
about putting children on the path to a healthy future
during their earliest months and years. Giving parents
helpful information and fostering environments that support
healthy choices. Providing healthier foods in our schools.
Ensuring that every family has access to healthy, affordable
food. And, helping children become more physically active.
Elmo Doesn't Fear Obama's School Lunch
Elmo joins White House Chef Sam Kass in White House kitchen
to talk about the importance of healthy and delicious school
meals following President Obama's signing of the Healthy,
Hunger-Free Kids Act.
Action for Healthy Kids,
we believe
there are ways to reduce and prevent childhood obesity and
undernourishment. Learn how Action for Healthy Kids is
working with schools, families and communities to help our
kids learn to be healthier and be ready to learn.
Fuel Up to Play 60 is an in-school program that encourages
the availability and consumption of nutrient-rich foods,
along with at least 60 minutes of daily physical activity.
The
Chefs Move to Schools program, run through
the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will help chefs partner with
interested schools in their communities so together they can create
healthy meals that meet the schools’ dietary guidelines and budgets,
while teaching young people about nutrition and making balanced and
healthy choices.
Healthy, Hunger-Free KidsAct
of 2010(HHFKA).
Improving child nutrition is the focal point of the Healthy, Hunger-Free
KidsAct
of 2010(HHFKA). The
legislation authorizes funding and sets policy forUSDA's
core child nutrition programs. The Healthy, Hunger-Free KidsAct
allows USDA, for the first time in over 30 years, opportunity to makereal
reforms to the school lunch and breakfast programs by improving thecritical
nutrition and hunger safety net for millions of children.
Final Rule
(pdf): Cooperation in USDA Studies and Evaluations, and Full Use of
Federal Funds in Nutrition Assistance Programs Nondiscretionary
Provisions of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, Public Law
111-296 (6/29/11)
Priceless: School Lunch
"Priceless" launched the
One Tray
campaign depicting the cafeteria tray as the conduit for a reformed
school food system that supports healthy children, local farms, and
smart schools. The video was created by three IATP Food and Society
Fellows, Shalini Kantayya, Nicole Betancourt, and Debra Eschmeyer to
raise awareness for the Child Nutrition Act.
Tom Vilsack, Secretary of
Agriculture stated “National School Lunch Week reminds us how
important it is that our children be healthy and active, that they
not go hungry, and that they have access to nutritious meals."
Current News, Resources and Events in Nutrition, Food, Health, Environment, Safety and Disability Rights. Encourages awareness and inspires ideas for Journalists, Educators, Consumers and Health Professionals. Wellness News is up-dated daily and includes weekly and daily events. To view the entire Newsletter online click here or subscribe to Wellness News by adding your email address to the link on the left.
October Monthly Events Weekly and Daily Events can be found in the Wellness Newsletter.
