‘Top Chef’ judge joins school nutrition effort

NEW YORK — "Top Chef" judge Gail Simmons is joining anti-hunger advocates and the officials who serve 850,000 New York City school meals a day to raise awareness of child nutrition issues as Congress prepares to reauthorize the federal law that governs school meals.

The advocates met at a Manhattan public school on Wednesday as cafeteria workers served the children a breakfast that included oatmeal and fresh fruit — a menu that they fear could be in jeopardy if Congress changes the rules when it reauthorizes the Child Nutrition Act.

"We don't want to lose the nutrition standards," said Jilly Stephens, executive director of City Harvest, which feeds the hungry in New York City using rescued food.

The Child Nutrition Act governs school meal and child nutrition programs and is up for reauthorization every five years. The current bill, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, is set to expire on Sept. 30.

Stephens said City Harvest is organizing a letter-writing campaign to urge Congress not to cut funding or dilute standards for school meals.

New York City department of Education officials including Dennis Barrett, the executive director of meal programs for New York City's public schools, joined the advocates at Public School 20 on the Lower East Side.