National School Lunch Week set guidelines for the nutritional needs of the school lunches. National school lunch week runs through October 11 until the 15th. They set requirements, according to USDA recommendations; an example is: Lunches must meet requirements such as meeting at least one third of the day’s nutritional guides for “proteins, calcium, iron, and Vitamin A and C.” The purpose of these guidelines is to encourage healthier lunches.
the Although the NSLP (National School Lunch Program) is nothing new, was signed into law June 4, 1946, it has not been emphasized, only incorporated into the system. Incorporated into the systems as well as each locality was able to afford to feed the poverty stricken of their area, since food cost money. And good nutrition is pricier than what much of the people could afford.
Even before Truman’s proclamation, schools were involved in food service, but apparently it was inadequate as to disease prevention. The lunch program was added after the second World War because many were too ill from malnutrition to be enlisted into the army.
With obesity on the rise, and a new all out effort to ween children off excess fats and high caloric drinks and to add to their diet more green vegetables and more fruits and whole grains, 2010 is seen as a year of reckoning for better lunch programs. The Jamie Oliver reality show, in response to Huntington, WV being declared the most obese place in the US, that emphasized better lunch programs for school children has helped increase awareness of the national problem of inadequate diet. Of course this is not only a problem of the US, it is international in scope.
The Obama White house is also involved in better nutrition for schoolchildren. The first lady has started a garden where the two Obama children and children from a local school are involved in growing healthy food. This has given the school program publicity and has been an inspiration for many. Since the inception of the School Lunch Program, it has been modified many times and nutrition for children has been an ongoing commitment of the US government.
On October 11, 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the Child Nutrition Act of 1966. From that SBP (School Breakfast Program); SMP, (Special Milk Program); was established. In 1968, SFSP (Summer Food Service Program) began. It was a three year pilot program. It continues in some area to this day. It is clear to see all this legislative concern centered itself on feeding children. After all, children are our future, and to ensure that they learn how to take control of it properly, they must learn in school. And learning in school is directly related to how well their bodies have been nourished.
As new findings, concerning nutrition and children and how it relates to their school performances, are released, those involved in schools, take notice. Change in habits, especially where organizations that are locked into their habits through necessity, frugality, or whatever, is challenged, it often takes a long time to effect a change. Yet, this year, 2010, the country and its school systems are not finished exchanging views on how better to feed children. News about the latest ideas and slight rule changes are welcome news and are almost certain to make headlines.
The School Lunch Week of October 11-15, 2010 has been well celebrated. Officially it is to recognize the importance of the 60 year old School Lunches. During this week, each school will use their own judgment on how to celebrate and to showcase the importance of seeing that children get an adequate lunch.