Agriculture secretary pushes school nutrition plan

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The Obama administration will ask Congress to improve childhood nutrition by ridding school vending machines of sugary snacks and drinks and giving school lunch and breakfast to more kids.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the administration would seek changes when Congress overhauls the Childhood Nutrition Act.

Among them will be an effort to jettison the cookies, cakes, pastries and salty food in school vending machines. Vilsack said schools need to help kids eat more whole grains, fruits and vegetables.

Vilsack was outlining administration goals in excerpts of a speech obtained by the Associated Press. He was supposed to give the speech Monday, but his appearance was canceled because of snow.

-- Associated Press