As you may have heard, the CDC just released a report on the availability of less nutritious snack foods and beverages in US schools. It shows that more states are removing less healthy foods and beverages and providing healthier options for our kids, but there is still work to be done. States with good school nutrition standards and policies for foods and beverages outside school meal programs are doing better – we can too! Strong policy initiatives can help close the gap in areas in nutrition, physical activity and education standards that need improvement and help save our children from a lifetime of obesity and the health problems and costs that go with it.

Childhood obesity is a serious threat to our children. The Department of Health and Human Services estimates that by 2010, 20% of U.S. children will be obese. Obesity accounts for an overwhelming 12% of our healthcare costs! But this epidemic is 100% preventable.

The American Heart Association is a science-based resource that encourages policy to:
-Require Quality Physical Education with Minimum Standards in Schools
-Ensure physical education is a requirement for high school graduation, with no exemptions
-Provide quality physical education which reflects the National Standards and is taught by a certified/licensed physical education teacher
-Support Physical Activity and Healthy Eating in the School Environment
-Require that quality health education is provided to all students as an integral part of K-12 education.
-Require physical activity, in addition to physical education, to be incorporated into the school day
-Require nutrition policies that remove less nutritious snacks and beverages from the school environment and increase the availability of healthy options in accordance with the Healthy Schools Program

For more information on the CDC report, and to see how we measure up visit:
CDC MMR Report
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