Expansion of HealthierUS School Challenge Boosts Nutritional Outcomes for Nation's Schoolchildren | |||||
DALLAS, Feb. 10, 2012 – First Lady Michelle Obama joined students, Top Chef chef'testants and the Dallas Cowboys at the Kleberg-Rylie Recreation Center today to highlight the Dallas Independent School Districts efforts to foster healthy, nutritious school environments as part of her three-day nationwide tour celebrating the second anniversary of Let's Move! "The First Lady's visit showcases the leadership role schools and school nutrition professionals play in shaping healthier eating and active lifestyle choices," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "The schools honored today for their HealthierUS School Challenge achievements are at the core of the nation's efforts to combat childhood obesity." In February 2010, USDA and the First Lady called on stakeholders to double the number of Challenge schools - a milestone reached in June 2011 – and add 1,000 schools per year for two years after that. The First Lady announced today that 2,862 schools have now met the HealthierUS School Challenge, surpassing the goals of this key component of her Let's Move! initiative. Participating schools voluntarily adopt USDA standards for food they serve and agree to provide nutrition education while offering greater opportunities for physical activity. Schools can earn bronze, silver, gold and gold with distinction awards in the HealthierUS School Challenge. The Dallas Independent School District has the most gold schools of any district in the country. The First Lady joined chef'testants from past seasons of the Bravo cable channel hit series "Top Chef" and Dallas Cowboy players to highlight the work being done in school cafeterias across the country. Chefs have played a vital role in the Let's Move! initiative, teaming up with schools all across the country to work with school chefs on healthy school meals and teach kids about the importance of a nutritious diet. Approximately 3,400 chefs and 3,350 schools have signed up for Chefs Move to Schools, and the First Lady will announce a coalition that is working together to expand the program. Since launching Let's Move! on February 9, 2010, significant progress has been made to solve the problem of childhood obesity. Parents, businesses, educators, elected officials, members of the military, chefs, physicians, athletes, childcare providers, community and faith-based leaders and kids themselves have made substantial commitments to improve the health of our nation's children. Working with theLet's Move! initiative, these groups have provided children with healthier foods and greater opportunities for physical activity in schools and communities, helped families get the information they need to make healthier decisions, supported a healthy start in early childhood, and worked to ensure that more people have access to healthy, affordable food. The legislative centerpiece of the Let's Move! initiative, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 marked a great win for the nearly 32 million school children that participate in the National School Lunch Program and the 12 million school children that participate in the School Breakfast Program each school day. Key accomplishments from the Act in the first year include:
FNS administers 15 nutrition assistance programs that, in addition to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and National School Lunch Program, also include the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, and the Summer Food Service Program. Taken together, these programs comprise America's nutrition safety net. Visit www.fns.usda.gov for information about FNS and nutrition assistance programs. |
Saturday, February 11, 2012
First Lady Michelle Obama Celebrates Second Anniversary of Let's Move!
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