Child Nutrition Act passes that will help schools feed healthier foods to kids

We are so excited that the Child's Nutrition Act has finally passed.  This bill is a big step in the right direction to help children all over the country get the healthy balanced meals they deserve.

But I know many of you wrote your senators and representatives, joined organizations that rallied the congress to pass this bill and participated in other activities to get this bill signed.  This is a huge victory for all of us and I want to congratulate each and every one of you for your commitment and determination!  We did it!

Here are some highlights of the bill:

• a $.06 increase per meal for schools that meet the nutrition standards set in the bill
• requires the USDA to develop new meal patterns and update the nutrition standards for meals and snacks in schools - foods in school must be consistent with the USDA dietary guidelines
• Federal funds will be allocated for school gardens and farm to school programs
• USDA has the authority to establish national nutrition standards for all food products sold on school grounds -- vending machines, lunch lines and school stores
• schools with low income children can receive federal reimbursement for free or reduced-priced meals. The law also eliminates the need to collect paper applications for free meals
• Funds will be made available to state agencies and local community organizations promoting nutrition education and obesity prevention
• schools must have water available for meals and free of charge
• funds to research the causes and consequences of hunger and to develop projects to end childhood hunger
• programs to promote healthy eating and reduce childhood obesity
• promotes breastfeeding through the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program by creating performance bonuses for up to 15 state agencies that demonstrate increased or high rates of breastfeeding for newborn children
• adds foster children to the list of those that are automatically eligible for free meals