I
am running for school board to ensure our kids are eating healthy lunches. This week, Congress will vote on a bill
that can help make this goal a reality.
While
Congress is wrestling with two
bills on school lunch funding over the next week—and they only have a week
since they must
pass the bill by next Friday or the school lunch money runs out.
The
background on the two bills gets complicated, but essentially, the bills are in
the House side at this point since the Senate does not have time to vote on another
school lunch bill.
We know that healthy school lunches help our
kids learn in class, teaches them healthy eating habits and decreases behavior
problems. Passing this bill in
Congress is a no-brainer. It’s
time Congress gets smart and starts to invest more into our kids’ school
lunches. It’s the right
investment, at the right time.
The
Problem
Schools are scrambling to find extra money
on already strained budgets. To offset costs, some districts turn to
outside vendors, such as fast food companies, to sell food to our kids. This is
not a long-term solution and it is swapping out one problem for another.
Our schools have not received an increase in
the money they have to spend on each child’s lunch since I was born
(1973)! I do not blame the
schools, we have to look at the way our school lunches are funded and what food
is made available to our schools.
The
Solution
Creating a system of locally grown food is
not only healthier for our kids; it also grows our local economy.
Finding solutions to the ongoing concerns
around school lunches should involve kids, local businesses, parents and school
staff. We
can start with small steps, including school vegetable gardens or obtaining
better transportation equipment to deliver fresh food from the school
district’s central kitchen.
Tackling school lunches is a huge challenge. But our town does not shy away from
challenges, we pull together to do what’s right for our kids—and that means
healthier school lunches.
You
Can Help
CALL: You can help by calling our House member
Rep. Adrian Smith and urge him to pass the Healthy, Hunger-Free
Kids Act. Rep. Adrian Smith's number is 308-384-3900.
YARD SIGN: You can also request
one of my campaign’s yard signs to show your support of healthy, locally
grown, school lunches in Hastings!
