Senate Passes Child Nutrition Act

Last Thursday, the Senate passed a Child Nutrition Act designed to feed hungry kids over the next decade with healthier and more nutritious meals.

By streamlining processing and administrative costs, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act will increase the number of low-income children eligible to receive free or reduced-price school meals. Additionally, the program will include after-school meals provided to at-risk children.

Although the act must receive final approval from the House before it can take effect, nutrition advocates applaud the bill for reconciling federally funding school lunch programs with federal nutrition requirements. Current school lunch programs lag behind these nutrition requirements and will expire on September 30. New legislation improves school nutritional guidelines and requires schools to eliminate junk food in vending machines.

Here in Southeast Delaware County, our United Way takes an active approach in helping children and families live healthier lives. We know that school lunch programs aid kids’ physical and mental development since healthy meals not only fill bellies, but also provide energy that kids need to learn in classrooms.