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Schools Around the Country Successfully Implementing New Meal Standards

August 27, 2013 Dr. Janey Thornton, Deputy Undersecretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services

Today a news report claimed that schools across the country are dropping out of the National School Lunch Program because the standards are too difficult to implement. The truth is that the vast majority of schools across the country are meeting the updated meal standards successfully, which is so...

Food and Nutrition Initiatives

Secretary's Column: Continuing the Fight Against Childhood Obesity

August 23, 2013 Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack

Ensuring the health and well-being of our nation’s children is a top priority for President Obama, and for all of us at USDA. We have focused in recent years on expanding access, affordability and availability of healthy foods for families and children. Recently, we learned of some promising new...

Food and Nutrition Farming

Colorado Partners Unite to Fight Summer Hunger

August 19, 2013 Budhiraja, Anjali, Mountain Plains Region Public Affairs Specialist, Food and Nutrition Service, USDA

Colfax Avenue in Denver, Colorado, is known for its diversity of businesses and residents. It is home to establishments ranging from upscale restaurants to motels housing low-income and homeless families. However, the upscale scene doesn’t tell the whole story. Within a two-mile stretch of Colfax...

Food and Nutrition

Turning the Tide on Early Childhood Obesity

August 07, 2013 Dr. Janey Thornton, Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services

Here at USDA, we’re on a mission to help all of our nation’s children have the best possible chance at a healthy life. So, we’re very encouraged by some recent news from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): the rate of obesity among low-income pre-school children appears to be...

Food and Nutrition Farming

Ask a School Meals Expert: How are Schools Helping Students Adjust to the New School Meals?

October 01, 2012 Dr. Janey Thornton, Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services

We’re continuing to answer questions we’ve received from folks about the improvements to school meals that started this school year. One concern we’ve heard is that students who may not be accustomed to eating particular foods may throw them away. We know it is important that students get the...

Initiatives Food and Nutrition

Ask a School Meals Expert: What do the New Calorie Standards Mean for my Child?

September 28, 2012 Dr. Robert Post, Deputy Director, Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion

You may have heard this year’s back to school season is a little different than in past years. There is a new, healthier look for the school lunch menu. These updates represent the first major changes to school meals in 15 years, and we know that these changes come with questions. We’ve promised to...

Food and Nutrition

HealthierUS Schools Challenge Reaches Major Milestone

July 16, 2012 FNCS Deputy Under Secretary Janey Thornton

It’s always a treat when we get to announce major progress toward making the school day healthier. Today, I am happy to say that over 3717 schools are recognized through the HealthierUS School Challenge (HUSSC). This voluntary initiative acknowledges schools that go the extra mile to increase...

Initiatives Food and Nutrition

Celebrating National Gardening Month with Healthy Gardens, Healthy Youth Programs

April 08, 2011 Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack

Soon after moving into the White House, the First Lady along with local elementary school children planted The Kitchen Garden at the White House, the first garden of its kind on White House grounds since Eleanor Roosevelt's Victory Garden during World War II. Weeks earlier, I celebrated the 200th...

Initiatives Food and Nutrition

Meeting the Nutritional Needs of the Nation’s Schoolchildren

January 13, 2011 Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack

Cross-posted from the Let's Move! Blog: Ensuring our nation’s schoolchildren have the necessary nutrition to learn, grow, and thrive is commitment that we take very seriously at U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). On the heels of the historic passage of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010...

Food and Nutrition Initiatives
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