What a week! We're so inspired by the almost 50,000 signatures we've gathered this month in support of healthy food in preschools, protecting SNAP (food stamps), limiting junk food fundraisers in Michigan schools, and asking the industry to curb junk food marketing to kids. Together, we are a force to be reckoned with! And our message is clear: everyone deserves healthy and nutritious food. Please read on for updates on what's next!
1. Hot Line
Hands off SNAP!
Some U.S. members of Congress are still trying to push billions of dollars in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP or food stamps). Forty-six million people—including one in five children, the elderly, and people with disabilities—rely on SNAP to feed themselves each day.
A few weeks ago the House of Representatives and Senate both passed their version of the budget, which included billions in dollars of cuts to SNAP. The House budget hits SNAP with a double whammy: it cuts the program by $140 billion over ten years and it block grants SNAP, turning control over to the states by 2021. The Senate budget also includes major funding cuts that would result in less SNAP dollars for our families. Now Congress needs to reconcile the differences in their two budget bills in a Conference Committee, and is expected to have a final budget by early May. Join us in making sure they know that cuts to SNAP are unacceptable!
School lunches are getting healthier!
New research from Bridging the Gap suggests that elementary schools are able to successfully offer healthier lunches to students, and that the national standards are consistent with those efforts. Key findings:
- Elementary school lunches have been improving consistently since the 2006–07 school year, with more schools offering healthier items and fewer schools offering unhealthier items.
- This trend has continued through the implementation of national standards in 2012–13, as the overwhelming majority of schools maintained or improved their offerings in the second year of implementation as compared with the first.
Quick links:
- General: School lunches are U.S. national-security issue. Op-ed by Samuel E. Ebbeson. April 15, 2015
- 11 Questions with Chef Rocco DiSpirito, from Partnership for a Healthier America.
- Consumer advocates petition FTC to keep junk food advertising out of YouTube for Kids. A coalition of children’s and consumer advocacy groups filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charging that Google’s new YouTube Kids app violates restrictions on marketing junk foods to kids.
- Nation's Leading Public Health Researchers, Scientists Endorse California, New York Sugar Drink Warning Label Bills. "Parents may know that drinking soda is not as healthy as eating broccoli, but they don't know that sugary drinks, like sports drinks and sweetened teas, may be making their children sick." said California Center for Public Health Advocacy Executive Director Harold Goldstein.
2. Join the Conversation
Connect, learn and share this month:
- Fri April 17, 1pm ET: #FoodFri Tweetchat: Tips for Establishing Healthy Eating Habits at Home! Join @MomsRising, @SaludToday and the @NicheParent blogger network this afternoon at 1pm! More info.
- Sat April 18, 11:30am-2pm ET: Good Food Force Meet Up in Detroit! Connect with other Detroit Moms and join a lively conversation about local food issues impacting the health of our kids. Healthy lunch provided. RSVP: beatriz@momsrising.org.
- Thurs April 23, 7:30pm ET: Google+ Event: A Conversation with Tony Geraci aka The Cafeteria Man! RSVP: karen@momsrising.org.
- Sat May 16, 2:30pm ET: Good Food Force Meet Up in Ann Arbor! Connect with other Ann Arbor Moms and join a lively conversation about local food issues impacting the health of our kids. We will also be making healthy yogurt and fruit popsicles and each mom will get a popsicle mold to take home! So bring your recipes to share! RSVP:beatriz@momsrising.org.
- April and May: Cafeteria Man Film Screenings! Interested in showing this powerful documentary to friends? Contact us for your free and easy film screening kit!Karen@momsrising.org.
3. Salad Bar
19 Green Smoothies that Actually Taste Great!
Check out and enjoy this great compilation of recipes from Buzzfeed! And come on over to the Good Food Force Facebook Group to share your own healthy snack ideas.
Photo credit: SallysBakingAddiction.com
Thank you for all you do!
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Good Food Force (GFF) Volunteers are real-life superheroes who take action in their schools and communities, and/or on their blogs and online networks, to get the word out about healthy school foods, junk food marketing to kids, and strategies that are working to reduce childhood obesity. Together with MomsRising.org staff, they help advocate for healthier kids and families. Help spread the word! Contact us: karen@momsrising.org
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