Child Nutrition Bill Almost a Law

on July 20, 2010 at 1:25 PM

I've been tracking the Child Nutrition Reauthorization bill for months. This is the legislation that provides some funding for school lunches and helps set nutritional standards, among other things. Since late winter it's been in and out of committees and through the House of Representatives.

Now it's called the Improving Nutrition for America's Children Act of 2010 and it just passed the House Education and Labor Committee late last week. So how close are we to wrapping this baby up? Thisclose. But the Act may still slip through the cracks. Keep reading to find out why.

Legislators need to get the bill funded, then passed through the full House, then get the same bill passed by the Senate, and finally deliver the bill to President Obama's desk before September 30. Only one problem: the August recess coming up in two weeks.

Also? The House and Senate are busy with a lot of other pressing matters, like extending unemployment benefits and banking reform. Up to this point they haven't made the Act a priority, and so the Improving Nutrition for America's Children Act is still just a bill -- with a looming expiration date.

Image via Jamie Buschemi/Flickr

About the author Adriana Velez

is a staff writer who dabbles in food, parenting, news, entertainment, molecular biology, and anything else that that pops into her head. She lives with her husband and elementary school-aged son in Brooklyn, land of urban farms and artisan everything.

Filed Under: food, trends, lunch

Comments (7)

Pishyah

on Jul 20, 2010 at 2:30 PM

Is it REALLY this difficult to get them to stop buying crap for the kids?!?!? Do vegetarian meals! Stop frying crap! Stop buying stuff that's been cooked ten times before you get it. Don't buy chocolate milk or sodas. What is so hard about this? I mean, in the long run it should SAVE money!

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Nonmember comment from SKL

on Jul 20, 2010 at 2:39 PM

I agree, it ought to be simple. Exclude meat, for starters. Exclude fried foods except maybe once a week. Increase the % of fruits/veggies. Serve only white milk as a beverage (or invite use of the water fountain). Phase out cooking, which is not necessary to a well-balanced meal.

But you know, those aren't the kinds of changes they are going to legislate. Just more money down the drain.

AdrianaCooks

on Jul 20, 2010 at 7:06 PM

Pishyah and SKL, those kinds of changes totally make sense to us civilians. But alas, the food industry (lobby groups for food manufacturers) weilds all too much power. Fixing school food is a big, complicated mess. Did you know beans do not count as a protein? BEANS! This is how far we have to go. And there's been all sorts of resistance to do Meatless Mondays all over the country--and not from parents, mind you. You'd think one day without meat wouldn't be such a big deal, but to certain powers it's a total threat.

tonyalynn

on Jul 23, 2010 at 10:23 PM

good

glendat1155

on Jul 28, 2010 at 2:33 PM

@Pishyah

Just start one food item at a time. It can be overwhelming trying to go from

one lifestyle to another in one swoop! I write a blog about families and food at http://www.familyfoodies.com/

There are some great ideas there. Today I blogged about Reed Alexander of iCarly who created a website and reciptes to help with this journey. One step at a time is a lot more manageable.!

glenda

tazdvl

on Jul 30, 2010 at 11:44 AM

Yes it is that hard for them to change things. If you don't want your kids to eat school lunches then send them with something to eat.

mainemusicmaker

on Aug 15, 2010 at 8:59 AM

Exclude meat? You can be responsible with diet and still eat meat. It's thoughts like that which can actually KILL a very worthwhile bill in the government.

I hope the bill passes. It'll go a long way in ensuring our children get the healthiest possible diets when away from home.