"national school lunch program" news and stories

The battle against unhealthy school lunches gained a powerful ally yesterday. First Lady Michelle Obama, already known for her commitment to healthy, organic eating, penned an op-ed in the Washington Post supporting the Child Nutrition Bill working its way through Congress. The $4.5 billion initiative aims to improve the quality of the lunches for kids across the country, and ties neatly into her "Let's Move!" campaign to reduce childhood obesity.

In the editorial, Obama calls the bill "groundbreaking," and says it's necessary to bring healthy habits into schools. "Right now," she writes, "our country has a major opportunity to make our schools and our children healthier. It's an opportunity we haven't seen in years, and one that is too important to let pass by." Taking a stand on the bill isn't exactly surprising, since the high-fat, high-sugar options available to many school kids are the antithesis of the produce-filled diet she advocates.

The bill will increase eligibility for the National School Lunch Program in addition to requiring more fruits, vegetables and whole grains while reducing fat and salt. And it's not just what's on those trays in the lunchroom – the bill would also eliminate junk food from vending machines and a la carte lines.

Catfish growers say a recent USDA purchase of $5 million worth of their product could help put catfish on more school cafeteria menus.

The purchase, announced this month by Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, will benefit federal nutrition assistance programs including the National School Lunch Program.

Roger Barlow, president of The Catfish Institute, calls school lunchrooms "the perfect venue for our product." While frozen breaded catfish strips are already a staple of many school kitchens, Barlow suggests catfish could be as prevalent as square-cut pepperoni pizza if administrators realized the advantages posed by the whiskered fish. "It's very nutritious, very versatile," he says. "I think there is room in schools for additional product."

School starts today for most kids around the country (it's already started already for many kids), and The National School Lunch Program turns 60, part of the National School Lunch Act signed by President Truman in 1946. Some people love school lunch, some people don't, but I think everyone has their favorite foods. Here are mine.

1. Pizza. I'll eat just about any kind of pizza (except Domino's regular pizza...ugh...love the deep dish though), and this square, greasy slab of tomato and cheese was actually really good. And just think kids, you're in school, but you're still eating pizza!