Not exactly what the good doctor ordered.
The government wants kids to eat more fruits and vegetables but doesn’t seem to be putting its money where its advice is.
For every dollar that the U.S. Department of Agriculture spent buying commodities for school lunches last year, 55 cents went to beef, chicken and cheese vs. about 23 cents for fruits and vegetables.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack stumped a group of Iowa business leaders recently by asking them what was the single food item for schools that the USDA spent the most on. His answer: mozzarella cheese …
Critics have long linked the federal school lunch program to the nation’s childhood obesity problem.
There’s a bill in Congress to force the government to obey its own nutrition guidelines. Will it pass? Only if enough citizens make their views known. Otherwise those profiting from current policies will win again.
