NAPNAP Applauds Government Action to Raise Nutrition Standards in School Lunches

Jan 27, 2012

For Immediate Release

Contact:  Felicia K. Taylor, Director of Membership, Chapters & Communication
Phone:     856/857-9700                                                
Fax:         856/857-1600                                                
Email:      ftaylor@napnap.org

CHERRY HILL, NJ (January 27, 2012) The National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners’ (NAPNAP) supports the recent ruling by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to raise new standards of school lunches in the US. Implementing the new meal standards is part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 signed into law by President Obama on Dec. 13.

This ruling is part of a concerted effort to address the problem of nearly 25 million obese and overweight children and adolescents.  The new standards call for a decrease in the amount of starchy foods, a 50% sodium reduction in meals, established calorie intake maximums by grade range, reduced fat milk consumption, an increase in servings of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and reduced trans fat in meals.

“NAPNAP is in full support of this ruling which will ultimately improve our children’s eating habits and choices later in life” said NAPNAP President Cheri Barber, DNP, RN, CRNP.  NAPNAP supports this ruling and is committed to educating families and health care providers to improve health outcomes for our nation’s children.

The final nutrition standards provide more time for schools to implement key changes, which will be largely phased in over a three-year period, starting in School Year 2012-2013.  Click here for more information on the new nutrition standards.

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NAPNAP is committed to improving the health care of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. An association of over 7,500 health care providers throughout the United States, NAPNAP has 48 Chapters nationwide. For more information, call 856/857-9700 or visit NAPNAP's Website at www.napnap.org.

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