Dan posted: " The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making another investment in school lunch programs. That's coming up on This Land of Ours. Tray of food in a school canteen The USDA announced several actions to expand support for and access to the scho" Southeast AgNET
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making another investment in school lunch programs. That's coming up on This Land of Ours.
Tray of food in a school canteen
The USDA announced several actions to expand support for and access to the school meal programs, including awarding $50 million in grants that will increase collaboration between schools, food producers and suppliers, and other partners to develop nutritious, appetizing school meals for kids. The department also announced $10 million in grants for schools to expand nutrition education, as well as a proposed regulatory change to give more schools the option to provide healthy school meals to all students at no cost. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made the announcement while visiting an elementary school in Greeley, Colorado.
"The Biden-Harris Administration believes that a healthier future for our country starts with our children," said Vilsack. "Continuing to make school meals healthier and available to more students are some of the best ways we can help our children thrive early in life."
USDA also opened applications for up to $10 million in Fiscal Year 2023 Team Nutrition Grants, which support nutrition education for school-aged children. The grants will extend nutrition education efforts beyond the cafeteria, incorporating it into all parts of the school day and even enrichment activities outside of school. The resources also support another component of the Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative by helping school districts introduce additional nutritious menu options, and eventually qualify for a Recognition Award.
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Secretary Vilsack also announced that the department is proposing a change that would give more schools the option to provide healthy school meals to all students at no cost. The rule would expand the number of schools eligible to opt into the Community Eligibility Provision, also known as CEP, which could result in more children receiving tasty, nutritious school meals.
"Many schools and even some entire states have successfully provided free meals to all their students," said Vilsack. "We applaud their leadership in nourishing children and hope this proposed change will make it possible for more schools and states to follow suit."
While the proposed rule does not increase federal funds for school meals, President Biden's 2024 budget requests an additional $15 billion over 10 years to support schools participating in CEP and reach 9 million more children. Vilsack added, "Together, these actions are one of many efforts the Biden-Harris Administration and USDA are taking to ensure the federal government, states, and local schools are working together to support child health."
FNS encourages all interested parties to comment on the CEP proposed rule during the 45-day comment period that begins tomorrow.
The expansion of CEP advances a pathway for healthy school meals to more students at no cost.
The School Food System Transformation Challenge Grants unite the public and private sector in expanding healthier food options in the K-12 school food marketplace.
The Team Nutrition Grants help schools expand nutrition education to students and introduce healthier food options into their meals.
Listen to Sabrina Halvorson's This Land Of Ours program here.
Sabrina Halvorson National Correspondent / AgNet Media, Inc.
Sabrina Halvorson is an award-winning journalist, broadcaster, and public speaker who specializes in agriculture. She primarily reports on legislative issues and hosts The AgNet Weekly podcast. Sabrina is a native of California's agriculture-rich Central Valley.
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