As kids across the country are revolting against first lady Michelle Obama’s healthy lunch initiatives, the School Nutrition Association is asking Congress for more money for school lunch programs and flexibility in the food served "to appeal to diverse student tastes."
The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 is currently set to expire on Sept 30. The law implements part of Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” initiative, including new nutritional standards. The law gives the United States Department of Agriculture “the authority to set nutritional standards for all foods regularly sold in schools during the school day, including vending machines, the ‘a la carte’ lunch lines, and school stores.”
Students have responded to the new nutritional standards by posting photo of their unappealing school lunches along with the hashtag, “#ThanksMichelleObama.” A viral YouTube video was even produced by students, titled, “We Are Hungry”:
As a result of the student outrage, the USDA announced it would “make permanent” “the current flexibility that allows schools to serve larger portions of lean protein and whole grains at mealtime.”
However, the “#ThanksMichelleObama” hashtag continues to show the sad state of school lunches:
In a survey conducted by SNA, a national non-profit representing 55,000 school nutrition professionals, 58 percent of responding school districts reported a decline of student lunch participation under the new nutrition plans set forth in the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act.
According to SNA's survey, approximately 93 percent of respondents cited “decreased student acceptance of meals” as the major reason why students are not buying school lunches.
Therefore, SNA is “asking Congress to maintain the overwhelming majority of the new rules, including caps on calories, saturated and trans fats and mandates to offer larger servings and a wider variety of fruits and vegetables.”
“To sustain the progress we have achieved for students, Congress must maintain strong federal nutrition standards while providing more funding and options for school meal planners to appeal to diverse student tastes,” Jean Ronnei, SNA president, stated.