Obama praises healthier school meals; Kansas farmers head to classrooms
October 13, 2015 |12:01 PM
In signing a proclamation declaring this to be National School Lunch Week, President Barack Obama also restated his administration’s commitment to healthier school meals, paid tribute paid to the first lady’s campaign against childhood obesity, and urged people to go for a walk and choose fruits and vegetables over salty snacks and sweets to set a good example for children.
“My administration remains committed to inspiring students to live a healthy, balanced lifestyle,” Obama wrote.
“First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let's Move! initiative has encouraged schools to provide nutritious food and help students make educated decisions about the food they eat each day,” he said.
“Because of these efforts, thousands of schools across America have answered the Healthier U.S. School Challenge with commonsense standards for the health, physical activity, and nutritional awareness of our country's students. And since I signed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act into law in 2010, we have ensured healthy meals are available for millions of students — even after classes have finished for the year.
“By working to encourage students to eat right and make healthy choices today, we can help ensure these positive habits continue throughout their lives.
“Despite the progress we have made, more must be done to safeguard a bright and healthy future for our children and our nation.
“Schools should foster an environment where young people acquire the knowledge and skills needed to make smart choices about what they eat, and healthy school meals should give children the fuel to work hard, grow, and succeed.
“During National School Lunch Week, I encourage everyone — students, educators, and parents alike — to add more greens to their plates and increase the amount of physical activity in their daily routines. Even small steps, like going for a walk or choosing fruits and vegetables over salty snacks and sweets, help set a positive example and instill the healthy habits our nation's children need.
“Together — as families, neighbors, and friends — we can turn these small steps into national action and make a transformative impact.”
Obama noted that Congress established National School Lunch Week in 1962 as the week beginning with the second Sunday in October.
Meanwhile, Kansas farmers are going to schools this week to teach about how their products fit into a healthy diet, The Topeka Capital-Journal reported.
“My administration remains committed to inspiring students to live a healthy, balanced lifestyle,” Obama wrote.
“First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let's Move! initiative has encouraged schools to provide nutritious food and help students make educated decisions about the food they eat each day,” he said.
“Because of these efforts, thousands of schools across America have answered the Healthier U.S. School Challenge with commonsense standards for the health, physical activity, and nutritional awareness of our country's students. And since I signed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act into law in 2010, we have ensured healthy meals are available for millions of students — even after classes have finished for the year.
“By working to encourage students to eat right and make healthy choices today, we can help ensure these positive habits continue throughout their lives.
“Despite the progress we have made, more must be done to safeguard a bright and healthy future for our children and our nation.
“Schools should foster an environment where young people acquire the knowledge and skills needed to make smart choices about what they eat, and healthy school meals should give children the fuel to work hard, grow, and succeed.
“During National School Lunch Week, I encourage everyone — students, educators, and parents alike — to add more greens to their plates and increase the amount of physical activity in their daily routines. Even small steps, like going for a walk or choosing fruits and vegetables over salty snacks and sweets, help set a positive example and instill the healthy habits our nation's children need.
“Together — as families, neighbors, and friends — we can turn these small steps into national action and make a transformative impact.”
Obama noted that Congress established National School Lunch Week in 1962 as the week beginning with the second Sunday in October.
Meanwhile, Kansas farmers are going to schools this week to teach about how their products fit into a healthy diet, The Topeka Capital-Journal reported.
