Ag. Secretary announces $5.8 million in nutrition grants to improve health of America's children

[The Straight Story]

AGRICULTURE SECRETARY TOM VILSACK ANNOUNCES $5.8 MILLION IN NUTRITION GRANTS TO IMPROVE HEALTH OF AMERICA'S CHILDREN
Team Nutrition Initiative Helps Combat Childhood Obesity, Promote Physical Activity to Enable Better Future for Nation's Youth


WASHINGTON, Sept. 1, 2009 — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today awarded approximately $5.8 million in Team Nutrition Training Grants to 18 states to help children develop good nutrition and physical activity habits for healthier lifestyles. This funding provides schools with nutrition education materials for children and parents as well as technical assistance for communities and school food service providers.

"Improving the overall health and well-being of America's children is a top priority of the Obama Administration as we work to confront the obesity epidemic that affects too many of our children," said Tom Vilsack. "We must continue encouraging children to eat healthy and to engage in daily physical activity to help them stay healthy and strong and reduce their risks for obesity."

Team Nutrition is a key component in the efforts of USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to enhance children's lifelong eating and physical activity behaviors by incorporating the principles of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and MyPyramid.

States will provide training and technical assistance to food service staff in preparing more fruits and vegetables, whole-grain products, and other healthier foods during the two-year grant period. The grants also support efforts to help schools reach out to parents, teachers, caregivers, and others to capitalize on the positive role-model potential they have for children.

In addition to Team Nutrition, FNS encourages elementary schools to take the HealthierUS School Challenge, promotes the use of USDA Foods, and provides schools with technical assistance to create and maintain healthier school environments and to implement their wellness policies.

The 18 states receiving grants are:

Delaware - $335,418

Florida - $349,920

Georgia - $342,284

Idaho - $240,214

Indiana - $282,037

Illinois - $348,404

Iowa - $349,685

Kansas - $349,630

Maryland - $339,602

Michigan - $350,000

Missouri - $349,987

Montana - $344,737

Nebraska - $326,635

North Dakota - $274,245

Ohio - $226,461

South Carolina - $345,170

South Dakota - $350,000

Wisconsin - $342,512

http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2009/09/0416.xml

[Rosa Luxemburg]

1. Hurrah!

[azul]

2. Little yea. But re-direct the toxic-food subsidies so the kids stand a chance:

Total USDA - Subsidies by state, 1995-2006

Rank State Total USDA - Subsidies
1995-2006 Pct of
Total Running
Percentage
1 Texas $16,229,168,781 9.1% 9.1%
2 Iowa $15,990,898,128 9.0% 18.1%
3 Illinois $13,426,108,173 7.6% 25.7%
4 Nebraska $10,432,876,377 5.9% 31.6%
5 Minnesota $10,269,255,833 5.8% 37.4%
6 Kansas $9,670,243,949 5.4% 42.8%
7 Arkansas $7,668,462,059 4.3% 47.1%
8 North Dakota $7,481,309,005 4.2% 51.3%
9 Indiana $6,600,636,433 3.7% 55.1%
10 California $6,235,138,230 3.5% 58.6%
11 Missouri $6,160,005,410 3.5% 62.0%
12 South Dakota $5,960,563,365 3.4% 65.4%
13 Mississippi $5,615,796,229 3.2% 68.6%
14 Ohio $4,816,100,079 2.7% 71.3%
15 Wisconsin $4,313,477,588 2.4% 73.7%
16 Georgia $4,044,624,314 2.3% 76.0%
17 Montana $3,972,132,303 2.2% 78.2%
18 Louisiana $3,707,336,026 2.1% 80.3%
19 Oklahoma $3,673,330,210 2.1% 82.4%
20 Colorado $3,139,091,676 1.8% 84.1%
21 North Carolina $3,027,473,148 1.7% 85.8%
22 Michigan $2,977,340,432 1.7% 87.5%
23 Washington $2,669,695,980 1.5% 89.0%
24 Tennessee $2,236,672,534 1.3% 90.3%
25 Kentucky $2,124,829,461 1.2% 91.5%
26 Alabama $1,997,009,802 1.1% 92.6%
27 Idaho $1,976,796,720 1.1% 93.7%
28 Florida $1,264,529,777 0.7% 94.4%
29 New York $1,224,672,559 0.7% 95.1%
30 Pennsylvania $1,155,270,674 0.7% 95.8%
31 Virginia $1,121,264,109 0.6% 96.4%
32 Oregon $1,056,651,301 0.6% 97.0%
33 South Carolina $1,052,299,678 0.6% 97.6%
34 Arizona $1,013,548,968 0.6% 98.2%
35 New Mexico $884,587,459 0.5% 98.6%
36 Maryland $623,800,838 0.4% 99.0%
37 Wyoming $405,362,649 0.2% 99.2%
38 Utah $400,441,037 0.2% 99.5%
39 Vermont $175,527,386 0.1% 99.6%
40 Delaware $173,911,241 0.1% 99.7%
41 Maine $120,153,896 0.1% 99.7%
42 New Jersey $116,861,383 0.1% 99.8%
43 West Virginia $104,128,140 0.1% 99.8%
44 Massachusetts $71,215,954 0.0% 99.9%
45 Nevada $64,497,788 0.0% 99.9%
46 Connecticut $62,768,315 0.0% 100.0%
47 New Hampshire $32,293,010 0.0% 100.0%
48 Alaska $25,495,289 0.0% 100.0%
49 Hawaii $17,432,452 0.0% 100.0%
50 Rhode Island $6,256,825 0.0% 100.0%

http://farm.ewg.org/farm/progdetail.php?fips=00000&progcode=total&page=states

[SoCalDem]

3. Just take OUT the HFCS from ALL foods & watch their health improve

and get back to REAL gym classes in school..

a cheap fix:)