Over the last few years many believe that Congress has been on board with improving school lunches. Just this past year President Obama signed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act followed by the announcement of new dietary guidelines earlier this fall. Until just recently there was a glimmer of hope, an idea that if enough people voiced their thoughts that these thoughts would become actions, and changes would happen but some can argue that lobbyist stepped in the way. Yesterday, November 17th, 2011 The House of Representatives passed a bill that secures frozen foods like french fries and pizza to remain an integral part of school meals. These meals are considered vegetables and an important part of a child’s diet.

National School Lunch Week 2011 is happening from October 10-14th! Help your school get involved to make better decisions in the lunch room and teach youth about the importance of knowing how their food gets from the farm to their plate.

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School lunch reform is taking over the nation one step at a time. With President Obama’s Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act signed into law in December, people are starting to realize that even Washington is beginning to understand the epidemic sweeping the nation. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act is a $4.5 billion plan that expands free lunches and makes school lunches more nutritious.

Although the plan sounds great many of us have been wondering if it really is being put into action. In January, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released recommended nutrition guidelines. If school cafeterias don’t meet USDA-established guidelines they can’t receive federal reimbursements for school meals. The new guidelines call for more fruit and vegetables along with less sodium. Although these changes may seem small, they are absolutely imperative. Almost one in three kids and teens, which adds up to about 23 million youngsters, weigh in as obese or overweight.

If you are in support of these new USDA guidelines, PlantingProgress encourages you to sign the petition to support USDA efforts to ensure healthy school meals. We have until April 13th to make a difference.

With the Let’s Move! Initiative sweeping the nation people are becoming more aware of the importance of fresh fruits and vegetables. Just recently the Obama Administration released details of an over $400 million Healthy Food Financing Initiative, which will bring grocery stores and other healthy food retailers to underserved urban and rural communities across America. This is incredibly important because children who come from impoverished areas may be taught to eat healthy in school, but when they return to their homes they have no options.

These underserved urban and rural areas are called ‘food deserts’. USDA recently launched a Food Environment Atlas (www.ers.usda.gov/FoodAtlas/) where food deserts can be identified.

“Encouraging people to choose fresh, nutritious food is important,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “But to achieve that goal that kind of food must be available, and in far too many parts of our country — both urban and rural communities — that’s not the case.