For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
October 11, 2002
National School Lunch Week, 2002
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
The future success of our Nation depends on our children's healthy
development. Since 1946, the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) has
made important contributions to the well-being of our school children.
As part of the NSLP, more than 96,000 schools and residential childcare
institutions serve more than 27 million children each day. In addition
to providing young people with nutritious meals, this program supports
the academic mission of our schools and helps to ensure that all our
Nation's children reach their full potential.
To avoid the formation of poor eating habits, which are generally
established during childhood, we must encourage positive choices that
fulfill dietary recommendations. It is critical that our children eat
sufficient amounts of fruits and vegetables, reduce fat in their diets,
and consume essential nutrients in an overall diet with appropriate
calories. By making modest improvements to their diets and increasing
physical activities, children can dramatically improve their overall
health.
To help meet this goal, the Department of Agriculture launched the
School Meals Initiative for Healthy Children. This plan empowers
schools to serve "kid-friendly" meals that meet the recommendations
defined in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the Food Guide
Pyramid. Through Team Nutrition, a compre-hensive, behavior-based
plan, the USDA assists schools by supporting food service personnel
with important training. New recipes are now created by teams of
dietitians and chefs, and then taste-tested by children. As a result,
more children are enjoying lunches that are lower in fat, saturated
fat, and sodium.
To motivate children to make sound choices, Team Nutrition also
educates them about the benefits of healthy eating. State and local
governments are supplementing these programs through innovative
partnerships with educators, school administrators, community
organizations, the food industry, and others. Through these
cooperative efforts we are addressing solutions to health problems,
such as the increasing incidence of childhood obesity, and we are
enhancing access to nutrition programs for needy children.
During National School Lunch Week, we recognize the hard work and
dedication of the thousands of food service professionals who plan and
prepare meals, and provide vital nutritional education to our young
people.
In recognition of the contributions of the National School Lunch
Program to the health, education, and well-being of our Nation's
children, the Congress, by joint resolution of October 9, 1962 (Public
Law 87-780), as amended, has designated the week beginning on the
second Sunday in October of each year as "National School Lunch Week"
and has requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance
of this week.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States
of America, do hereby proclaim October 13 through October 19, 2002, as
National School Lunch Week. I call upon all Americans to join the
dedicated individuals who administer the National School Lunch Program
at the State and local levels in appropriate activities and
celebrations that promote all programs that support the health and
well-being of our Nation's children.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eleventh day
of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand two, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
twenty-seventh.
GEORGE W. BUSH
# # #
|