Child Nutrition Act Passes- What Do We Get?

From the flurry of emails and blog posts that have gone out since yesterday's passage of hte Health Hunger-Free Kids Act - here's what it looks like the new legislation will bring us:

(from the NYCHSFs) The CNR will now:

• make it easier for more children to participate in the meal programs
• make it easier for schools to administer the program (saving them funds)
• regulate junk food in schools (previously it only regulated the meals and other food programs in schools, but not vending or a la carte sales)
• provide some funding for Farm to School programs
• provide an increase in reimbursement - 6 cents, the first in 30 years (all other increases were for inflation)
• address the fact that monies intended for children receiving free and reduced price meals are subsidizing the meals of the children who are paying full price

(from Chef Ann Cooper's blog)

• Requires the Agriculture Department to develop science-based nutrition standards for all foods sold on a school campus during the school day – which will lead to significantly reducing the availability of high calorie junk foods and sugary beverages on school campuses.
• Strengthens local wellness policies to help schools, communities and parents identify and implement strategies to make a real difference in helping children to develop healthy behaviors when they’re away from home.
• Improves food safety requirements for school meals by improving recall procedures and extending existing food safety requirements to all places where school meals are prepared or served.

I'm sure there's more details to come!

Sara