A Local to Global Mission for SNA

Joanna Lefebvre

The School Nutrition Association (SNA) had members informed and inspired as they exchanged ideas and strategies at the 2006 Annual National Conference (ANC).

Thousands of school foodservice professionals, including 23 international delegates representing 17 nations, convened in the Los Angeles Convention Center on July 13-16, all with an eye toward child nutrition in a changing world.

More than 100 education sessions addressed topics such as commodity usage, leadership, resource management, marketing, safety/ security and wellness. The conference also kicked off a nationwide campaign that will encourage students to vote for their favorite school lunch and spread the word about the positive changes in school lunch over the years.

An exhibit hall showcased over 340 companies sampling a wide variety of healthful food and beverage products. Some of the products expected to appear in lunchrooms this fall include ready-to-eat, prepackaged cut fruits and vegetables,-convenient, nutritious breakfast-foods, 100% fruit juice smoothiesand no-calorie, flavored and vitamin-fortified waters, as well as soymilk made with organic soybeans—both flavored and unsweetened.

Legislative Issues
The main thrust of the SNA's legislative agenda in 2007 will focus on strengthening school nutrition programs as the United States moves toward globalization.

"In order for the US to compete effectively in the world marketing, we must have a well educated and healthy workforce. Strong school nutrition programs are a key component to preparing our children to learn," states the letter to Congress.

SNA makes the following recommendations:

Budget Reconciliation. SNA will urge Congress to exempt child nutrition programs from any budget reconciliation requirements that may be enacted in 2006.

Elimination of Reduced Price (ERP) Pilot. SNA will urge Congress to specifically appropriate approximately $30 million to carry out the ERP pilot program as authorized.

Nutrition Education and Local Wellness Policies. SNA recommends that Congress appropriate 50 cents per enrolled child, per year, to integrate nutrition education into local school curriculums.

School Breakfast Commodities. SNA urges that 10 cents per meal be provided in USDA commodities for each school breakfast served.

Global School Meal Program. SNA supports funding for the McGovern-Dole International School Lunch Program.

An International Focus
The newly launched Global Child Nutrition Foundation (GCNF) will serve as the nucleus for all of SNA's current global activities. It will work to expand these programs, create new opportunities and establish permanent funding for global child nutrition outreach. It will also collaborate with and complement the activities of likeminded organizations committed to expanding access to school and community-based nutrition programs.

GCNF seeks to build and support a global network of child nutrition advocates while illustrating SNA's and the CNF's commitment to "advance good nutrition for all children." Joanna Lefebvre