HEALTHY - SCHOOL MEALS - FOR ALL

Edgar Hoover, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) targeted food programs across the country in an organized effort to destroy the Black Panther Party.6 While these efforts by the federal government were tragic and disastrous for the Black Panther Party, the The Black Panther Free Breakfast Program, Oakland visibility of the breakfast program provoked government officials to prioritize feedi. [...] The HHFKA updated national nutrition standards for meals, snacks, and beverages to align with the most up-to-date version of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (then, the 2010 edition); strengthened required policies at the local level (local wellness policies); increased access to free meals; and improved meal financing and technical assistance. [...] Early in the pandemic, the USDA issued several nationwide waivers to help school nutrition programs feed children and families while minimizing risk: providing free school meals to all and allowing schools to waive the nutrition standards if linked to COVID-related disruptions. [...] Today, the same level of enthusiasm and effort is needed to protect the integrity of the school meals program and ensure that the program reaches every child. [...] For example, former Texas State Commissioner of Agriculture Susan Combs moved the school meal programs from the Texas Education Agency to the State Department of Agriculture and made key improvements to school meals, snacks, and beverages, such as removing deep-fat fryers and reducing portion sizes and calories for snacks and beverages.