BigNews.Biz - Mar 05,2010 - U.S. Senator Kit Bond praised the First Lady, Michelle Obama, for tackling an epidemic threatening the healthy future of one third of American children – obesity – and urged Mrs. Obama to empower families to make healthy choices.
“Our nation’s neediest families are not getting the nutrition necessary for good health,” said Bond. “While it is critical that we ensure needy families receive the assistance they need to buy food, we should also empower these families to make nutritious food choices, particularly when the science has proven that poor nutrition leads to obesity and other life-threatening health conditions.”
In a letter to Mrs. Obama, the Senator praised the First Lady for her recent launch of a campaign to tackle childhood obesity, including efforts to reform the school lunch program. But Bond urged the First Lady not to end her important crusade to help children make healthier choices at the school house. Bond pointed out that good nutrition starts at home and urged Mrs. Obama to empower families to make healthier food choices by turning our nation’s food assistance programs into nutritious food assistance programs.
A recent alarming report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture revealed that low-income families who participate in our nation’s food stamp programs are eating too much food high in saturated fat and too little milk, fruits, and vegetables. Unlike our nation’s other food assistance programs, including programs to help women with children, the food stamp program has no guidelines in place to encourage healthy eating habits.
The full text of the letter is below. Also, listen here or go to www.bond.senate.gov and click on “Multimedia” to hear Senator Bond talk about the importance of tackling this epidemic threatening American children.
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Mrs. Obama
Congratulations on the launch of the “Let’s Move” campaign. The issue of childhood obesity has long been a concern of mine. As you recently noted, children who eat a balanced diet feel better and live more productive and happier lives. You rightfully pointed out that childhood obesity must be addressed – this epidemic threatens the health of our country.
Much of the discussion regarding the “Let’s Move” campaign has been directed toward school programs. I agree that there is room for improvement in the School Lunch program, but it is important to remember that good nutrition starts at home.
Currently, the federal government spends more than $8 million every year developing the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) MyPyramid to educate the public on healthy eating habits. Sadly, a recent USDA report confirmed that low-income families who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, do not follow the USDA’s MyPyramid. This alarming report indicated that these families are eating too much food high in saturated fat and too little milk, fruits, and vegetables. This means that our nation’s neediest families are not getting the nutrition necessary for good health.
SNAP is a safety net that millions of families depend on and is even more
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