Now that school is getting into full swing again, do you have concerns about what the USDA provides children through various school lunch and milk programs as well as federally assisted nutritional programs? Well we should and now there is a forum. Parents, school officials and other concerned individuals are gathering together to express themselves at "Listening Sessions" being held across the country as the USDA prepares for the 2009 reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Program.   With the national success of the program, action groups are now pushing for more disclosure and input on what is being fed to our nation's children.

There are several issues that will likely be raised and might pique your interest to take action:

• Parental consent before serving genetically modified food;
• Preference for grass-fed meats from small, sustainable farms;
• Elimination of hormones, antibiotics, and steroids from school food;
• Increased use of fresh, locally grown produce;
• Affirmative action on behalf of family farms & ranches;
• Junk foods removed from schools;
• Stop using school nutrition to push the unpopular National Animal ID System (NAIS) ("an expensive and unnecessary federal program that requires owners of livestock to tag animals with electronic tracking devices. The intrusive monitoring system amounts to nothing more than a tax on livestock owners, allowing the federal government access to detailed information about their private property." Congressman Ron Paul-R -Parental Rights in Food Choice

This is your chance to be heard!  Add your two cents about the lack of nutrition and levels of toxicity in our children's food! The remaining sessions will be:

Chicago, IL     FNS Midwest Regional Office
GSA Conference Center Room 331
77 West Jackson Blvd.  20th Floor
Chicago, IL  60604-3507         Sept. 10, 2008
1 pm - 4 pm
For more information, call 312-353-1044

Denver, CO      The Colorado History Museum
1300 Broadway
Denver, CO 80203        Sept. 11, 2008
9 am - 1 pm
For more information, call 303-844-0300

If you are unable to attend either session, you can still submit your concerns and /or general comments about the program management to the Food and Nutrition Service.
Please visit http://www.fns.usda.gov/cga/Sessions/default.htm or write to them at:
Food & Nutrition Service
3101 Park Center Drive
Alexandria, VA 22302

Change does not happen through complacency, it happens when enough people come together, use their voices and push the mass to lean one way or the other.  How can we step up for all kids when it comes to having the healthy and nutritious foods necessary to live and grow? We can express our opinions through our votes, but also simply by using our voices!