Re: [SIGN NOW] Tell the USDA: Kids Need Stronger School Meal Nutrition Standards

USDA sets sugar cap on school meals, but more to be done on sodium and whole grains Dear Friend, Did you see our email? Over 30 million children rely on school meals programs to provide them healthy meals. School meals should support children’s health and cultivate healthy eating habits that last a lifetime. [Add your name to the Center for Science in the Public Interest's petition and tell the USDA to improve our school meal nutrition standards.]( [ADD YOUR NAME]( This is the email we previously sent: --------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Friend, School meals are a lifeline for 30 million children—particularly those from food-insecure families where school breakfast and lunch might be their only reliable meal of the day. Research shows that school meals are some of the healthiest meals kids get, but many still have room for improvement. That Pop-Tart or box of cereal? They often have as much added sugars as desserts. With 65 percent of all children aged 2 to 19 consuming too much added sugars, it’s long overdue to make permanent changes to school meal nutrition standards. The good news is that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) proposed a new rule that for the first time, would limit the amount of added sugars in school foods. Implementing a sugar cap would be a huge step forward. Replacing these options with healthier alternatives would put kids on the right track to avoid diabetes, heart disease and other health problems later in life. While the proposed sugar cap is good progress, it’s not enough. For kids under age 8, lunch alone may contribute up to 74 percent of their daily sodium, and nearly 90 percent of all children aged 6 to 18 consume too much sodium. More needs to be done to reduce sodium levels in school foods and to require more whole grains. The USDA’s sodium reduction goals do not align with Dietary Guidelines for Americans’ recommendations for children. Moreover, the USDA is proposing allowing only 80 percent of grains to be whole grain-rich, which is lower than the 100 percent requirement established previously. Kids deserve the best start in life and that starts with what they eat every day. Healthy, wholesome meals provide children with the nutrients they need to grow, develop and learn in and out of the classroom. Let’s make sure USDA does not miss the mark. We have until April 10th to reach our goal of 100,000 comments and make sure our voices outdo those who want to halt progress on nutrition. [Join us in sending a message to the USDA to make sure they protect kids’ health by sticking to the science.]( [ADD YOUR NAME]( Sincerely, Meghan Maroney Campaign Manager, Federal Child Nutrition Programs Center for Science in the Public Interest Paid for by Center for Science in the Public Interest. Does not equal endorsement. By clicking the submit button, you give the Center for Science in the Public Interest the authority to submit this comment and your complete first and last name, your email, and your address for docket number FNS-2022-0043 to USDA, on your behalf. You understand that your comment, including any personal information provided, will be publicly posted to the Federal eRulemaking portal, www.regulations.gov, and will be available for public viewing. It will also be subject to the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552). Daily Kos, PO Box 70036, Oakland, CA, 94612. Sent via [ActionNetwork.org](. To update your email address, change your name or address, or to stop receiving emails from Daily Kos, please [click here](.