School Lunch Facts

SCHOOL LUNCH FACTS

Did you know?

FOOD FOR ONE DOLLAR

*Under the current national School Lunch Program, the USDA reimburses public schools for every meal served: $2.57 for a free lunch; $2.17 for a reduced-price lunch and just 24 cents for a paid lunch.

After the schools pay for labor, equipment and overhead, this leaves only $1.00 per meal to spend on food.

**We are seeking to raise the reimbursement rate to $3.57

*Federal nutrition standards apply to school meals provided in cafeterias nationwide. Food service programs must meet the guidelines to qualify for federal subsidies.

According to the GAO, 99 percent of high schools, 97 percent of middle schools and 83 percent of elementary schools have vending machines, school stores and snack bars.

However, under current law, vending machine food, on-campus stores selling chips, soda and candy and even “a la carte” cafeteria items are not governed by any guidelines. These highly-processed, high-calorie foods sneak under the radar of any federal nutrition standards. Further, the federal nutrition guidelines have not been updated in 30 years, despite the obvious link of increased childhood obesity and diabetes to our children’s diets.

** We are seeking to have Congress approve Representative Woolsey and Senator Harkins’ Child Nutrition Promotion & School Lunch Protection Act of 2009.

This bill would:

1. Require an update of USDA nutrition standards;

2. Enable the USDA to look at all foods sold in schools, not just the “main meal”.

Facts provided by www.slowfoodusa.org; http//betterschoolfood.com;

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The HOME Project

We are living in exceptional times. Scientists tell us that we have 10 years to change the way we live, avert the depletion of natural resources and the catastrophic evolution of the Earth's climate.

The stakes are high for us and our children. Everyone should take part in the effort, and HOME has been conceived to take a message of mobilization out to every human being.

For this purpose, HOME needs to be free. A patron, the PPR Group, made this possible. EuropaCorp, the distributor, also pledged not to make any profit because Home is a non-profit film.

HOME has been made for you : share it! And act for the planet.

(note: this HD-quality movie is 90 minutes long. So plug in your stereo speakers and high-def monitor, sit back and be prepared to have a life changing experience)

HOME (English with subtitles)

NSTAR Green - Option for Basic Service Customers to Purchase Wind Generated Electricity

Have you seen the NSTAR Green program that is available? NSTAR Basic service customers can choose to purchase 50% or 100% of their electricity from Maple Ridge Wind Farm in upstate NY.
You can go to the NSTAR Green homepage to learn about the program.

Crucial Waters – Reporting on the World’s Oceans -Brian Skerry

Sunday, November 1, 2009 at 4 p.m.
Duxbury First Parish Church
842 Tremont St Duxbury

In this presentation Brian Skerry will take the audience around the world and into the sea by sharing tales from several of his most recent feature stories for National Geographic magazine. A major focus of Brian’s work in recent years has been to produce stories that both celebrate the sea and raise awareness about problems. In the last 50 years, 90% of the big fish in the ocean have disappeared. Over 100 million sharks are taken annually and species of whales and sea turtles are on the brink of extinction. But it is not too late and hope remains for Earth’s vital seas. In this compelling presentation, Brian presents the “State of the Oceans” and behind the scenes tales of life in the field. Environmental problems and solutions are illustrated and audiences are brought eye-to-eye with amazing marine animals and exotic locations from diving beneath arctic ice to the world’s most remote tropical coral reefs. Tickets are $10 adults and $5 for students to benefit Sustainable Duxbury.