Food Network Star Shares Operation Frontline Success Stories with Congress
Posted by Michael McKenna on Thursday, April 29, 2010
On Wednesday, April 14 Congressman Joe Baca (CA-43), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition, and Forestry, held a hearing on “Access to Healthy Foods for Beneficiaries of Federal Nutrition Programs.” Food Network star Ellie Krieger, host of Healthy Appetite, was a witness. During her testimony, she highlighted the many ways in which Share Our Strength® is working with partners to combat childhood hunger in the United States, and offered recommendations for strengthening pending legislation to help America’s kids lead healthier lives.
Ms. Krieger told members of Congress about the link between hunger and obesity in America: hungry kids tend to eat high-calorie foods with low nutritional value. Despite this growing problem, she pointed to Share Our Strength’s Operation Frontline as a great example of a solution that’s working in communities across the country. Here are a few of the reasons Ms. Krieger gave about why the program’s work matters so much:
87% of adults report improving their cooking skills after graduating from an Operation Frontline curse, which means they’re better equipped to make healthy meals for their families at home.
96% of kids who take Operation Frontline’s Side By Side course enjoyed cooking alongside their parents during class, an important element in continuing to prepare and eat healthy meals together as a family and teaching necessary skills to future generations.
After participating in Operation Frontline, at least 69% of adults said they were eating more fruit and vegetables than before the course.
But for sustainable change, Congress needs to take action too. The Senate Agricultural Committee has been working on the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. The Act includes some innovative measures that would improve the ability of schools to purchase fresh, local produce and build school gardens, in addition to limited but important changes around school breakfast and lunch programs.
Ms. Krieger suggested a few other ideas for reform that have not yet been incorporated into legislation. These include improving infrastructure in school kitchens to enable them to store and serve fresher and healthier foods, and promoting nutrition and physical education programs that include fun, interactive activities like farm visits and cooking workshops. These are good ideas that will make a real difference in the lives of children. So if you want to see these ideas get turned into law, let your members of Congress know about the importance of investing in nutrition education and other creative ways to make sure kids in need get the help they deserve.
April 29, 2010 | 6 comment(s) | Tags: child nutrition act, childhood hunger, Cooking Matters, event, nutrition education, Operation Frontline, school lunch
Comments
6 reader comments so far.
I'd like to know if Jeff Bridges was compensated for his appearance on the No Kid Hungry TV spot. Thank you.
Posted by gem541@AOL.com on November 29, 2010
To gem541@AOL.com...seems you know little to nothing about being an actor. They have a union called SAG that requires they be paied, but you also don't know much about Jeff Bridges either! He's worked with children's charities for decades and every dime he's 'earned' has gone to those charities! He is truly one of the good guys.
Posted by Katharn Clawson on December 13, 2010
Why is someone worrying about getting paid for such an amazing cause.? I'm a high school teacher on Long Island and see first hand lack of nutrition these young kids suffer from. . It is heart-wrentching to watch. Nutrition plays such an important role in childhood,adolescent, and adult development. Good nutrition is linked to high achievement and performance. I feel blessed that everyday my own kids eat nutricious meals b/c I'm so into cooking home made meals that my kids developed those habits. I'd love to see a nationwide even worldwide movement to end child hunger
Posted by Maria Garcia on February 14, 2011
Is there a way we can make paypal one of the ways to donate money. I will post that on every thing I sell or buy on ebay. Thank you Simone:)
Posted by Simone on July 20, 2011
http://newamericamedia.org/2011/12/teachers-struggle-to-feed-hungry-students-in-order-to-teach.php
Teacher struggle with hungry students
Posted by Donna Carpenter-F on December 25, 2011
I have never seen a child hungry in the US. I have worked since I was 13 and I had a child when I was 17. Went in the military. Was a single parent and raised her and she was a single parent. We have never been hungry. What is going on?
Posted by CHERYL KELLEY on December 28, 2011
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