Thursday, April 19, 2012
Advocacy in Action
Advocacy in Action: ProposalsThroughout this blog I have spoken a lot about asking representatives to support a bill that is currently being considered by one committee or another. But have you ever considered that you can impact policies before they are even made?
The United States Department of Agriculture is currently reviewing it's Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP). The purpose of FFVP is to provide children with a variety of fruits and vegetables as healthy snack options at participating schools.
With the help of Prevent Obesity I have written a letter to Tom Vilsack, Secretary to the USDA, to let him know I support FFVP and requesting that the review addresses a few key points.
Dear Secretary Vilsack,
I am writing to show my support of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program and your effort to standardize it so that more children will benefit. Having a program that teaches students about the importance of eating fruits and vegetables by allowing them to try the produce helps educate them about nutrition and helps kids’ lead healthier lives.
As you finalize your proposal, I ask that you include the following requirements:
1. States conduct outreach to schools serving the highest percentage of children eligible for free or reduced-price meals;
2. State agencies provide schools with the training and technical assistance necessary to operate the program efficiently;
3. Schools implement the program five days per week;
4. Schools incorporate nutrition education into the program; and
5. Schools use only fresh, fresh-cut, and nutritionally equivalent fruits and vegetables in the program.
To ensure that schools can reach the goal of serving nutritious snacks as part of this program, it is also important that your agency allow them to use a portion of their total funding for non-food costs—such as the purchase or lease of kitchen equipment.
This program can and does help improve students’ dietary intake, which in turn reduces their risk for obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and other serious chronic diseases. Healthier children do better in school and we all benefit.
If you would like to let the USDA know you also support FFVP, you can do so here.
Labels: Advocacy in Action, Policy
by E Pace at 3:34 PM |
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