Child Nutrition Act

Edit links
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (CNA) is a

National School Lunch Program (NSLP) to help meet the nutritional needs of children." The National School Lunch Program feeds 30.5 million children per day (as of 2007). NSLP was operated in over 101,000 public and nonprofit private schools in 2007.[1] The Special Milk Program
, functioning since 1954, was extended to June 30, 1970 and incorporated into the act. The act also provided Federal funding assistance towards non-food purchases for school equipment.

The act established the

public and non-profit schools as well as child care
institutions. During the signing of the act, the president remarked that "good food is essential to good learning."

Importance

It is important for food programs such as these in schools because some students may receive all their meals from school. According to the

Protein-calorie malnutrition
(Berger 172). In the long run if children do suffer from lack of nutrients it will not only impede brain growth but affect their ability to learn as well (Berger, 172). Some students have recognized the importance of a well balanced diet and started programs on a local level. Programs like the School Food Plus Initiative & E.A.T.W.I.S.E (Cooper, 54). Parents are also getting in on the action and have formed school district wellness committees around the country. They are looking forward to developing wellness policies that will charge local school districts with setting targets for nutrition education (Cooper, 84).

Nutrition standards

The

National School Lunch Program
feeds more than 30 million students. However, the national standards and meal requirements for these meals were created more than a decade ago. The planning model used to develop current nutritional standards and related meal requirements is based on legislation (USDA, 1995) that provided specifications for use of 1995 Dietary Guidelines for American and the 1989 Recommended Dietary Allowances (Stallings, 89). This model considers needs of the entire population of school children rather than specific individuals (Stallings, 91).

The

school lunch program
and the CACFP) for snacks served in after-school programs and authorized demonstration projects providing free breakfasts for elementary school children without regard to family income. Modest revisions were made to child nutrition and WIC program rules.

The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 (S. 2507,

Pub. L.Tooltip Public Law (United States) 108–265 (text) (PDF)) required that all school districts with a federally funded school meal program develop wellness policies that address nutrition and physical activity.[2]

The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Snack Program (Food and Nutrition Service) was also designed to increase fruit and vegetables available to schools. In 2008, a farm bill called for gradual expansion of program to all states by 2012.[1]

In the fall of 2009 the

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and USDA, as well as the IOM’s Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI). The committee recommends numerous revisions and that emphasis be placed on revised Meal Requirements rather than on nutrients per se. The committee’s recommended new approach clearly focuses on providing meals that are consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The final report, School Meals: Building Blocks for Healthy Children was released in November 2009.[3]
The committee recommended that the USDA adopt standards for menu planning, including:

  • Increasing the amount and variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
  • Setting a minimum and maximum level of calories
  • Focusing more on reducing saturated fat and sodium

On January 13, 2011, the USDA published new proposed regulations in the Federal Register based on the IOM recommendations, as part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.[4]

See also

Notes

  • Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from Jasper Womach. Report for Congress: Agriculture: A Glossary of Terms, Programs, and Laws, 2005 Edition (PDF). Congressional Research Service. Retrieved November 21, 2014.

References

  1. ^
    USDA Economic Research Service
  2. ^ Pangrazi, Robert (2007) "Dynamic Physical Education for Elementary School Children", 15th ed.
  3. Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences). Archived from the original
    on January 10, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
  4. ^ "Hunger-Free Kids Act: Proposed Changes Will Improve the Health and Wellbeing of Children Nationwide and Help Address Childhood Obesity Crisis". Food and Nutrition Service/USDA Office of Communications. January 13, 2011. Archived from the original on January 12, 2018. Retrieved January 12, 2018.

Further reading

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Child_Nutrition_Act&oldid=1150423579"