Child Nutrition Staying on Congressional Agenda

The Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act of 2010 is the most recent initiative in Washington that could affect nationwide food standards for children. Announced by Representative George Miller (D-CA) on June 10, the bill calls for enhancing and expanding access to school food programs and “…for the first time, establish[ing] nutrition standards for all foods sold in schools,” according to Miller’s Web site.

Some provisions in the bill include making available competitive grants for school districts to start or improve breakfast programs; facilitating eligibility for school food programs to high-poverty communities; and having the Secretary of Agriculture update nutrition guidelines for all solid and fluid foods provided during school meals and after-school programs.

The full list of provisions would increase the money invested in the average school meal by six cents-another sign that Washington is putting its buck on addressing nutrition this year. Miller’s bill comes on the heels of another child-nutrition act, S.3307, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, which was introduced on the Senate floor in May.

To read the full bill, click here.