The National School Lunch Program and Our Children

1
The National School Lunch Program and Our
Childrens Health

• Jenny Pompilio
• PHE 510
• Public Health Social Justice

2
Introduction

• Our Childrens Health
• Obesity
• Heart Disease
• Diabetes
• Life expectancy
• National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
• Origin
• Subpar nutrition standards
• Industry ties
• Emerging movements

3
A.A. Milne

• When you wake up in the morning, Pooh, said
  Piglet at last, whats the first thing you say
  to yourself?
• Whats for breakfast? said Pooh. What do you
  say, Piglet?
• I say, I wonder whats going to happen exciting
  today? said Piglet.
• Pooh nodded thoughtfully. Its the same thing,
  he said.

4
NSLP History

• 1946 National School Lunch Act
• 1966 Child Nutrition Act (Breakfast,
• Summer, CACNP)
• 1980 Dietary Guidelines Americans
• 1983 Foods Minimal Nutritional Value
• 2002 Farm Act Fruit/Veggie Pilot
• 2004 Child Nutrition WIC
• Reauthorization Act

5
NSLP Quick Facts

• Mission promote the health and well-being of
  the Nations children
• gt100, 000 Schools
• 28 Million lunches/day
• 5 BILLION lunches/year
• 94 of ALL schools (avg. 60 participation in
  NSLP)
• Free lt130 FPL (49)
• Reduced lt185 (10)

6
NSLP participants

• 48 lt10 yrs old
• Low income children
• 2/3 of participants
• Equal participation white/blacks/Hispanics
• Free lunch single female HOH
• Low income children are
• affected more by obesity

7
NSLP Participant Nutrition

• Food based vs. nutrient based
• 1/3 RDA energy, iron, protein, CA, Vit. A C
• lt1/4 elem. schools meet total fat req. of lt30
  lt1/3 meet sat. fat req. of lt10
• 95 exceed upper limit for Na
• Vegetable consumption higher, due to
  potatoes/french fries
• Studies suggest link btw NSLP and overweight (do
  not prove!)
• 2005 DGA new fat range 25-35
• added sugars removed from key messages!

8
NSLP Industry

• USDA 2004 Senior Advisor on Food Nutrition
  (NCBA) Press Secretary (NCBA) CIO (ConAgra)
• DGA 2005 Kraft Mars American Egg Board
• Sugar Association NCBA
• Kellogg National Dairy
• Board Council
• 2008 Sec Ag corn sweet-
• eners Governor's Biotech
• Partnership fish farms
• National Cattlemens Beef Association

9
Cause for Hope

• National and Local Initiatives

• NSLP Wellness Policy, Fruit Veggie Program
  Geographic Preference
• Oregon HB 3601
• DOE ODA collaborate on Farm to School School
  Garden Programs-Centennial Learning Center

10
Conclusions

• Our childrens health in peril
• Policy double-edged sword
• Childrens health vs. Agribusiness
• Bee the change you want to see in the world!!!
• 
  
• 
  
  

11
Resources

• National School Lunch Program
• www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Lunch
• Farm to School National Network
• www.farmtoschool.org
• Center for Ecoliteracy
• www.ecoliteracy.org
• Alliance for a Healthier Generation
• www.healthiergeneration.org
• Dietary Guideline for Americans 2010
• www.cnpp.usda.gov/dietaryguidelines
• Slow Food USA Slow Food in Schools
• www.slowfoodusa.org
• Ecotrust Farm to School
• www.ecotrust.org/farmtoschool