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Statement

STATEMENT OF KRISTIN ROWE-FINKBEINER, Executive Director and CEO of MomsRising.org, On School Districts Rejecting the National School Lunch Program

August 29, 2013
Youth & Family Justice

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

MomsRising.org Leader Endorses National School Lunch Program, Encourages School Districts to Educate Students About Healthy Eating
“With childhood obesity at epidemic levels, and related health problems like diabetes and hypertension on the rise, it is deeply disappointing that instead of doing more to serve children healthier meals, a few school districts are deciding to opt out of the National School Lunch Program, which features more whole grains, fruits and vegetables. 
 
“Every mom has had to deal with a child who didn’t want to eat their vegetables. But moms know that sometimes you have to encourage your kids to do things they don’t want to do for their own good, and that behavior change takes time. 
 
“We should all work together to ensure that our kids get the nutrition and the education they need to develop into strong, healthy, productive adults. That might involve adapting the Program to address the needs of some students, but it certainly does not mean rejecting it wholesale.”
 

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MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, decrease discrimination against women and moms, and to build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.