U.S. Congress passes sweeping child nutrition bill

Today the House of Representatives passed a bill supported by Mrs. Obama that will fund child nutrition measures with $4.5 billion dollars.  Part of the funding will come from a cut in the federal food stamp program.  If President Obama signs the bill into law, the federal government will soon have more power to set school food standards.

One step at a time for better school meals

The Child Nutrition Reauthorization legislation did not pass before Congress went home for its recess. However, two nonprofits offer suggestions on how culinary professionals as well as others concerned can advocate to improve the quality of school meals.  Slow Food USA has a campaign to "Give Kids the School Food They Deserve."  Action for Healthy Kids offers step-by-step directions on how to influence policy making at the national level.