Lunch Woes: USDA Chief Wars Congress School Lunch Program To Suffer Without Action

United States' Department of Agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack urges Congress to take action to support the Child Nutrition Act.

According to the Tennessean, Congress has until the end of September to reauthorize the Child Nutrition Act, known as the 2010 Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act, which was supported by first lady Michelle Obama.

USA Today reports that Congress has just returned from its summer recess, and Vilsack urges the Congress to not lower the standards for healthier food options given to kids.

"Now is not the time to roll back these standards, now is the time to commit to a future," Vilsack said.

According to Vilsack, although failure to re-up the funds won't close the school meal programs, failure may mean putting the success of new healthy meal standards in jeopardy.

"We want to send a day-to-day message that the healthiest choice is the right choice," said Vilsack.

Vilsack heads the USDA's campaign to give healthier meals to more than 31 million American children. He believes that students can be taught healthy habits by pushing standards for fat, sodium, and sugar content, and that this will help especially those with low-income food budgets at home.

The USDA secretary shared his childhood story to press, putting importance on supporting healthier school meals. At six, he had to cope with an alcoholic mom by eating, which made him get fat. Peers made jokes at him, and his family put a picture of an obese cartoon on their refrigerator to remind him that if he continues to eat, he'll look like that character.

"If you're food insecure, if you're hungry, if you're concerned about your image in school, you're not going to be the learner you're intended to be," Vilsack said. "You won't achieve as much, and you may not be as successful as a citizen in this country."

According to Vilsack, many children receive a large part of their daily nutrition in schools. He added that the school meal program was a "bold step in redesigning the school lunch and school breakfast programs."

Although the program received some criticism from school children, Vilsack thinks that the majority of students are at least "OK" with the meals, while some like them.

"I think the vast majority of young people in this country are OK with the meals and like the meals," said Vilsack. "There may circumstances that kids may not like them."

Vilsack announced that the USDA will allot funds to implement the policies set in 2010. $2.6 million will fund standards training for employees in 19 states, and $5.6 million will fund projects that will help schools inspire children to embrace healthy food options such a vegetables and fruits.