Rush Holt's bill on child nutrition

by: tabbycat31

Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 07:59:49 AM EST

Over the last generation, there has been an obesity epidemic, especially in American children. Experts place blame on our sedentary lifestyle, increasingly relying on technology, and our food—which with a few exceptions has gone from a natural diet to a processed diet. American families are increasingly relying on processed food for the convenience and taste. Because of federal farm subsidies, processed food is often cheaper than whole foods. (In my opinion this should have been addressed in the health care bill but that’s a diary for another day.) This is not even a close resemblance to the food our grandparents ate in their heyday.

For many American children, their healthiest meal often comes in the form of school lunch. In some cases this is their only meal as hunger is a growing epidemic in these economic hard times. The federal school lunch program gives free or reduced price breakfast and lunch to children from low-income families. However many school lunch menus resemble a children’s menu at a restaurant and serve kid-friendly foods such as hot dogs and macaroni and cheese that lack nutritional value. Most doctors and nutrition experts agree that the average American child does not eat enough fruits and vegetables. At my local school district there is a choice of two meals from the menu. Almost daily, every choice lacks both a fruit and vegetable. In some cases the fruit is juice (which does not offer the benefits of fresh fruit).

Congressman Rush Holt (D-12th district) introduced a bill that would build a relationship between school lunch programs and local farmers.  This legislation, which I think is long overdue, would not only provide schools with less expensive, safer, and healthier foods, but would also teach children about the way that our food is produced. It’s also a win for the farmers who would see an increase in business because of the schools.

However, I worry about the opposition from industry that this bill would receive. Anyone who has paid attention to the health care and financial reform bills knows that industry can make, break, or significantly water down legislation with their lobbying power. And in light of the recent Supreme Court decision, the opposition will be uglier than ever. Industry fought Michelle Obama on her White House organic vegetable garden last year. If this bill makes it out of committee, I could imagine the fight and false advertising.

Industry opposition or not, this bill is a very good idea. Not only would it teach children where food comes from, provide healthier and fresher school lunches, and give local farmers new business, but it would save money in the long term. A healthier population means lower health care costs and a higher quality of life for everyone.