Michelle Obama, the wife of the US president, has announced the first nutritional overhaul of school meals in the United States for 15 years during a visit with elementary school students in Alexandria, Virginia.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and well-known chef and television personality Rachael Ray were also present at the school when the announcement was made.
The guidelines for school lunches include less sodium, more whole grains, and a greater selection of fruits and vegetables. There will be a limit to the number of calories per meal, and most trans fats will be banned. All milk served in the school lunch programs will be low-fat and flavored milk will be non-fat.
First Lady Michelle Obama noted that nutritional lunches will contribute to students learning better. She also commented on the fact that school lunch programs should not undermine the work of parents as they make every effort to provide their children with nutritious food at home.
The new guidelines apply to school lunches that are subsidized by the federal government. A child nutrition bill implemented in 2010 will assist school districts with some of the increased costs associated with the guidelines. While some of the changes will occur relatively quickly, others may be phased in over a period of time.
Some schools are already endeavouring to improve the quality of school lunches. However, there are still many instances of poor nutritional content including the use of high calorie foods and large amounts of fat and sodium.
These nutritional guidelines apply to free or low-cost school meals that are provided to children from low-income families. However, the 2010 child nutrition bill will also extend nutritional standards to other unsubsidized foods that are sold in US schools such as snacks from vending machines. The specific guidelines for these foods are expected to be comparable. The nutritional guidelines have been proposed as a result of 2009 recommendations to fight childhood obesity.
Source: Global News.ca
Call 1-866-222-1883 any time to speak with a specialist about treatment for Eating Disorders.
Click on a state below to find eating disorder treatment options that could be right for you.
For individuals, friends and families who are looking to connect during life's challenging times. Share personal experiences, evaluate information and get support during times of need, illness, treatment or recovery.
Twitter:
StumbleUpon
The information provided on EatingDisordersOnline.com is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her health professional. This information is solely for informational and educational purposes and we encourage all visitors to see a licensed physician if they believe that they have an eating disorder. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Neither the owners or employees of EatingDisordersOnline.com nor the author(s) of site content take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading this site. Always speak with your primary health care provider before engaging in any form of self treatment. Please see our Legal Statement for further information.
Eating Disorder Support Groups at SupportGroups.com provides a network for those facing life's challenges. Click on the following links to get the support you need in a confidential, caring environment.
If you or a loved one is suffering from an eating disorder and need help entering into recovery then we are here to offer help in any way we can. We have over 2,000 Treatment Facilities and Treatment Professionals listed on our Directory. You can search by Zip Code, City or State. Click here to search for a Treatment Facility that is right for you.
