AT NO CHARGE Healthy Meals On The Front Lines
On The Front Lines
nutrition programs across the country and provide the necessary funding to continue to improve the quality of school meals. Over the last year, throughout this pandemic, we have quickly realized how essential our school nutrition programs are to the families in our communities. Equal access to nutritious school meals at no charge
supports academics and fosters healthy eating habits while removing any stigma associated with eating in the cafeteria. Now is the time… the time to provide all students with these healthy meals as part of their school day. Providing all students equal access to a healthy school breakfast and lunch as part of their educational experience will ensure every child is nourished and ready to learn each day.
Warrick County School Corporation, IN Shenae Rowe, RDN
go hungry because they are embarrassed or to accrue unpaid meal debt, a burden to both the families and the school district. For decades, a stigma has followed school meals with many students and families feeling it is a program for the less fortunate and of lesser quality food. But, school nutrition professionals across the country know this is not the case. School meals are loaded with fresh fruits and vegetables, healthy whole grains and the necessary nutrients required to help our students learn. Research shows that children eating school lunches consume fewer empty calories and more fresh fruits, vegetables, fiber and milk than their peers who pack a meal from home. Offering these meals under the USDA School Nutrition Program at no cost to all students will help financially stabilize the self-supporting school
We know that nutrition and education go hand and hand and that all students must be fully fueled to learn and achieve their greatest potential. But there are many more reasons to provide school breakfast and lunch meals at no cost to students across our country. School meals are an essential part of the school day; just like books, transportation and school nurses. They are proven to support learning, boost test scores and improve attendance and classroom behavior. However, even with all the benefits we know school meals provide our students, there have still been challenges school nutrition programs face. No child should ever go hungry during the school day. Regardless of their family’s income, many students carry the burden of not having money to purchase
Taking Action:
This Interview video will be presented at the upcoming Legislative Action Conference to state our case!
Healthy Meals at no Charge
School meals are an essential part of the school day; just like books, transportation and school nurses. “
12
13
breakfast and lunch meals at school which causes them to either
Shenae Rowe has been the Food & Nutrition Director and Dietitian for the Warrick County School Corporation in Southern Indiana for the last 18 years. She currently serves on the SNA Public Policy and Legislation Committee, SNA Unpaid Meal Charges Working Group and the USDA Foods Task Force. She is an Indiana SNA Region Rep and an Indiana Legislative Action Committee member.
Shenae Rowe RDN
Powered by FlippingBook