School Breakfast And School Lunch Programs

These hearing transcripts present testimony to the Senate Committee on Agriculture regarding the School Lunch and Breakfast Programs. Statements were made by several senators, the president of the American School Food Service Association (Connecticut); a school food service program director (Florida); the director of nutrition and education for the American School Food Service Association (Virginia); the director of the Children's Nutrition Research Center (Texas); the vice president of Food Operations at Disneyland Resort and Concept Development (California); and an assistant professor of clinical dietetics and nutrition, University of Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania). Witnesses maintained that the Nutrition Education and Training Program needs funding to maintain its current service level. It is necessary to modify the School Lunch Program to encourage student participation, make it easier for schools for qualify, and to reduce the administrative burden. Testimony also indicated that breakfast programs are vital to student nutrition, academic performance, and school attendance. School food service has become more efficient and more consumer-oriented, has expanded to supply meals to new audiences, and has increased the flexibility of service delivery. However, it is necessary to integrate food service within the educational day to enhance student nutrition knowledge and practice. Offering food choices may reduce food waste. The solution to major childhood nutritional problems is to apply current information to improve children's diets and to support nutrition research. An appendix to the transcripts contains additional statements, letters, and materials submitted. (KB)