Kids’ school food
Re “State may run out of school meal funds,” Dec. 3
As a dietitian, I know that cash-strapped school districts in California and across the country are struggling to give all children access to nutritious meals. Unfortunately, serving healthier foods can cost schools more money -- but that could change next year.
The Child Nutrition Act, which determines what foods are served in the National School Breakfast and Lunch programs, is up for reauthorization in 2009. The Department of Agriculture currently subsidizes raw products used to make hot dogs, cheese and chicken nuggets, making it more affordable for schools to serve these unhealthful choices. We must ensure that the new act increases offerings of fruits, vegetables and other low-fat vegetarian foods to make healthful options more affordable.
The new act also should reward school districts that serve nutritious foods by giving them additional funding. We must encourage schools to flood lunch lines with healthy, low-fat vegetarian fare.
Kathryn Strong
Washington
The writer is staff dietitian for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.
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