Child Nutrition Bill denial disappoints obesity campaigners

The bill proposed that six cents would be added to every child’s lunchtime meal for the first time in 30 years, which would cover the cost of providing children with fresher, healthier foods. In turn this would have meant that unhealthy junk food options would have been removed from the lunchtime menu, and replaced with more nutritious alternatives. Consequently, this would help children to lose weight, reducing childhood obesity rates.

Experts have warned that by declining the proposed bill congress have cost every child ten years of their life. It will also hike up family health bills as children will need treatment and medication for the health conditions that unhealthy cafeteria lunches have contributed towards when they get older.

It seems that by declining the bill - which would work out at only a tiny amount per plate - congress has showed how little they care about the future health of thousands of young Americans.

British TV chef, Jamie Oliver has launched the ‘Food Revolution Petition’ to drum up support for better school lunches. Over 600,000 people have signed the petition so far over the worry of what their children are eating at school.

On a typical day children are being fed chocolate milk, soda and pizza for breakfast and burgers with fries for lunch. Tomato ketchup has even been classified as a vegetable by officials in a bid to meet basic nutritional standards and slash costs.

As congress are choosing to overlook making the much needed changes to children’s lunches, Jamie is crying out to parents to sit up and take notice of what their children are eating. He is urging parents to go and eat lunch with their offspring to see firsthand exactly what goes into their mouths.

If they’re disgusted by what’s on offer he’s pleading for them to ‘make noise’ by sending emails directly to the head teachers and school boards. He's called for them to rally up other parents who feel the same way and demand change, so that the message gets heard.

Congress is meeting in November to discuss the bill again, and if they still overrule it, it will be another five years of your children eating pizza for breakfast accompanied with soda and chocolate milk. Jamie says: "five years is too long... your children deserve better".

Via : atlanticdrugs