The National Movement

According to the 2012 annual obesity report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Trust for America's Health:

• More than 35% of adults are obese. If these rates continue, more than 44% of adults will be obese in all 50 states, with Mississippi having the highest rate at 66.7% and Colorado the lowest at 44.8%. The number of new cases of type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and stroke, hypertension and arthritis could increase 10 times between 2010 and 2020 - and double again by 2030. In 1980, the obesity rate for children ages 6 to 11 was 6.5%. Today nearly one-third of children and teens are obese and overweight.

To view the study online click here.

Studies are clearly linking our national food supply to this problem and demonstrating the negative impact that the highly processed foods are having on our children’s physical / mental health and performance. 

In an effort to address this issue the USDA has issued new guidelines under the Healthy Hunger-free Kids Act.  These guidelines will be phased in for public schools participating in the National School Lunch Program over three years beginning in the Fall of 2012.  For the most recent USDA guidelines on school meals - click here.  First Lady Michelle Obama recently unveiled these guidelines at a local Fairfax County school - click here. 

Real Food For Kids believes a paradigm shift is still needed.   Although the new USDA guidelines make significant improvements, schools are still permitted to serve highly processed foods.  In fact, we've recently seen Congress approve pizza as a vegetable.   For Real Food For Kids' position on this important issue - click here.

What's happening in other schools?

Why are other school districts making change? Why is it important? 

• Click here to read an article from Jeffrey Mills, former Food & Nutrition Services Director for the District of Columbia Public Schools. He talks about the reasons to make change, the challenges to get there, and the successes that keep him motivated.

• Read the Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare Foundation study that identified three school districts in the northeast and the changes they have accomplished.

• See how schools in Georgia are using salad bars to promote healthy school lunches statewide - click here..

Local Accomplishments

Real Foods For Kids encourages Fairfax County Public Schools to exceed The USDA Standards for school lunches and become a role model for excellence in the area of school nutrition. Below are some items we've been working on.

1. The School Board on January 24, 2013 approved the award of a contract for an assessment that will determine the feasibility of providing more fresh, whole foods to students throughout the county and other Resolution goals.  The contract will go to Prismatic Services, Inc.  RFFK is excited for the assessment to begin and looks forward to working as a stakeholder in the project.
2. Since our inception, RFFK has visited many schools in the county and spoken about some of the major concerns due to the high number of processed ingredients and artificial additives, dyes, and preservatives. As of the school year 2012-2013, FNS has removed the cheese quesadilla (which used to have 76 ingredients), the grilled cheese sandwich (which was reheated in a sealed plastic bag for students), and changed the 29-ingredient hamburger to a 100% beef patty. These are great accomplishments! In addition, FNS has indicated that over the last year it has removed more than 80% of artificial additives, dyes and preservatives in the current menu. We applaud FNS for their efforts to work with vendors to provide foods free of harmful ingredients.
3. The School Board has approved a pilot kitchen at Marshall High School in Falls Church. Starting in the fall of 2013, the school kitchen will incorporate some new menu items made fresh on site. They will also highlight a new large "cafe bar" which will offer several items for a salad bar, fresh sandwiches, and soups. FNS is working hard this year to develop menu items that will work in the new set up. We anticipate a successful program that we hope can be incorporated throughout the county.