October 9, 2008
LANSING - School districts throughout Michigan will celebrate National School Lunch Week from October 13-17, 2008, as adopted by the State board of Education.
This year's theme for National School Lunch Week, entitled Vote for School Lunch 2008- Presidential Edition, presents an excellent opportunity to promote school lunch programs statewide and to emphasize the importance of child nutrition.
The National School Lunch Program has served children for over 60 years through advanced practices and nutrition education. The National School Lunch Program has been joined through the years by many other excellent child meal programs; and there is evidence of continued need for nutrition education and awareness of the value of school nutrition programs.
According to the "State of School Nutrition 2007" report, school nutrition programs have introduced students to more fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, whole grains and low-fat and reduced sugar food varieties. Today, a majority of schools offer fat-free milk, salad bars or prepackaged salads, low-fat yogurt and yogurt drinks, from-scratch baked items and even vegetarian meals.
Within the federally funded National School Lunch Program, 95% of schools participate and 30 million children are served daily nationwide. Last school year, more than 850,000 school lunches were served daily to Michigan students at more than 3,800 sites.
"Children who are provided breakfast and lunch daily are better prepared for academic success, being able to focus solely on their learning, rather than a basic biological need," said State Board of Education President Kathleen A. Straus. "It is important to understand that education and proper child nutrition go hand-in-hand."
National School Lunch Week serves as a fitting time to recognize and commend the men and women who accept and meet the daily challenge of providing school meals to school children and to urge all Michigan residents to become aware and concerned about their children's and their own nutrition habits, in hope of achieving a more healthful citizenry for today and the future.
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