Staples Touts Healthy School Meals

TYLER —To help students learn the benefits of a nutritious diet early in life, the Texas Department of Agriculture is promoting National School Lunch Week, Oct. 11-15. Officials say this year’s theme, “School Lunch – What’s on Your Tray?,” is designed to help students learn that eating a healthy school lunch is essential to getting the most out of each day. During National School Lunch Week, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples visited Orr Elementary School in Tyler to tour the school and eat lunch with students. Commissioner Staples says he’s committed to working with districts across the state to ensure children have access to healthy meals that will allow them to excel in the classroom and in life.

“Right now, taxpayers are picking up the tab for poor eating choices,” Commissioner Staples said. “It’s estimated each year Texas taxpayers spend nearly $5.8 billion on avoidable obesity-attributable health care costs. By educating students on the need to adopt the 3E’s of Healthy Living —Education, Exercise and Eating Right, children have the opportunity to grow up healthy and keep our economy strong. National School Lunch Week is the perfect occasion to remind students and their parents that adopting a healthy lifestyle is an investment in our future.”

This year’s National School Lunch Week marks one year since the full implementation of the Texas Public School Nutrition Policy (TPSNP). According to Staples, the TPSNP sets nutrition standards above and beyond federal guidelines. Staples says that’s so Texas students have access to the highest quality school lunches served in an overall environment that eliminates or restricts the availability of carbonated beverages, candy, foods prepared through deep-fat frying methods, and other foods said to have minimal nutritional value.

Staples says the National School Lunch, School Breakfast and Summer Nutrition Programs significantly increase the nutritional mealtime options to children at school. But he says the battle against poor eating and lifestyle choices must also be waged at home. According to Staples, encouraging youth to adopt the 3E’s of Healthy Living – Education, Exercise and Eating Right – helps them make decisions that can lead to active, healthy lives.

National School Lunch Week was established in 1963 to help raise awareness of the role the National School Lunch Program has in the nutritional health of students. The National School Lunch Program provides low-cost or free lunches for more than 3 million Texas schoolchildren daily. In 2003, the Texas Department of Agriculture became the state’s administering agency for the program in public schools. In 2007, TDA began administering the National School Lunch Program for private and faith-based schools in the state.