Healthy Children A Priority for Conlin
(DES MOINES)--Democratic candidate for US Senate, Roxanne Conlin, supports the Farm to School local food programs. Two-thirds of school children eat a National School Lunch Program lunch and consume about one-third of their total calories from this meal; and that food travels between 2500 and 4000 miles before reaching their plates. Obesity in children leads to obesity in adults and includes many complications. One of the major complications from obesity is adult diabetes.
"These statistics clearly show the importance and immediate value of Farm to School programs. Farm to School not only provides healthy food choices for our children but also creates economic opportunities for local farmers. Along with that, when children go on a farm tour or participate in a school garden, they learn where some of their food actually comes from," said Conlin.
The Healthy, Hunger-free Kids Act would reauthorize the National School Lunch program as well as other critical child nutrition programs including summer food and funding for Farm to School programs nationwide. The Act was voted out of the Senate Agriculture Committee unanimously almost three months ago but the full Senate has yet to consider it. The bill has strong bipartisan support and the hope is that the Senate will pass it next week. If the Senate fails to act in July, there may not be time for action before the current child nutrition programs expire on September 30th.
"It is important for the Senate to act quickly on this legislation," said Conlin. "If we want and expect our children to be successful academically, we need to provide the necessary resources to do so, and healthy food is one of the most important components."
