Latest news with #schoolmeals
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Gov. Josh Green signs multiple education-focused bills
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Gov. Josh Green signed five bills aiming to strengthen educational opportunities and student success across the island on May 30. 'This group of bills represents our state's active commitment to finding real solutions and protecting the fundamental right every keiki has to quality education,' Green said. 'Thanks to the critical work of educators and students alike, as well as countless community advocates, our state is poised to reduce childhood food insecurity and increase access to academic and extracurricular educational opportunities.' Kona man charged with connection to parking scam The new laws are as follows: SB 1300: Expanding Access to Free School Meals This bill increases access to free school meals for qualifying students, with the bill taking effect in the 2025-2026 academic year, with further expansions to free meals the following year. In addition to expanded meal access, the new law also prohibits schools from denying a meal to a student who is unable to pay. 'Senate Bill 1300 removes the financial barrier to accessing school meals, supporting students' health and well-being, as wel as their academic and developmental success,' First Lady Jaime Kanani Green said. 'If students aren't hungry, they can better focus on their studies, extracurricular activities and personal growth.' The bill was brought forward by Senate Vice President Michelle Kidani, who served as the lead 862: Addressing School Bus Shortages Multiple school bus routes were suspended this past academic year due to a nationwide bus driver shortage. This bill reverses the suspensions and allows for alternative vehicles, such as small buses, vans and more, to pick up students and bring them to school. 'Hawaiʻi continues to face a schoo bus crisis, and we've heard from countless parents, families and educators about the urgent need to expand transportation options, while keeping safety front and center,' said House Committee on Education Vice Chair Trish La Chica. 'This new law paves the way for our students to thrive, by expanding the department's options to secure reliable transportation and ensuring that transportation barriers don't stand in the way of our keiki and their opportunities to succeed.' Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news HB 133: Funding for Interscholastic Surfing Programs This bill appropriates over $685,800 for 2026 and 2027 to help establish interscholastic surfing programs, providing students with a competitive outlet they may otherwise not have. 'Hawaiʻi is the birthplace of surfing, and that's something we should take great pride in. By recognizing surfing as an interscholastic sport, we are expanding access in Hawaiʻi schools — allowing students to build ocean safety skills, connect with our cultural heritage and participate in a sport that has produced champions from our own shores,' Rep. Sean Quinlan, who introduced the bill, said. Two other bills were signed, including HB 110: Relating to Local Agricultural Products, which updates goas and timelines for locally-sourced meals can be provided by the Department of Education to students. The last bill signed was HB 1170: Relating to the University of Hawaiʻi Resident Tuition Fee, which requires UH to provide resident tuition fees to individuals who graduated from high schools in the islands, are enrolling in an undergraduate program and meet other conditions. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Guardian
5 days ago
- Health
- The Guardian
Relax guidance for meat three times a week in English schools, says charity
Guidance urging schools in England to serve children meat at least three times a week should be overhauled in order to increase the eating of vegetables and legumes, a leading charity has said. A report published by the Food Foundation has found that children eat proportionally more processed meat than adults, with more than a third (36%) of meat eaten by children coming from processed meat such as bacon, ham, and sausages, compared with 29% of adults. The study also found that 80% of the most commonly eaten meat dishes in schools and educational institutions are either processed or red meat. According to current government guidance, schools should provide a portion of meat or poultry for at least three days a week in school meals, which is part of the wider school food standards designed to ensure children have a balanced diet. However, the Food Foundation is calling for the requirement to be relaxed, and that increased consumption of fruit, vegetables, and legumes should be encouraged through a specific strategy. The charity is also calling for the strengthening of government procurement rules for schools and other public spaces where food is served, through a review of government guidelines. Rebecca Tobi of the Food Foundation, said: 'It's worrying that children are eating so much processed meat, especially in schools, where meals should be nourishing. 'The government should review the Government Buying Standards for Food and School Food Standards to ensure they align with the latest health and sustainability recommendations. This includes relaxing the rule requiring schools to serve meat three times a week and reducing the amount of processed meat served. 'This would let caterers offer more beans, pulses, wholegrains, and vegetables – improving health and cutting costs. Current policies don't support children's long-term health or British farmers, who face unfair competition from lower-standard imported processed meat.' The report also found that four-fifths of the most commonly eaten meat-containing dishes from fast-food outlets are likely to be processed and/or highly processed meat, while sausages and bacon are two of the five most commonly eaten dishes in casual dining restaurant chains. Processed meats, which can be high in salt and saturated fat, have been classified as carcinogenic by the World Health Organization (WHO). Cancer Research UK estimates that of the 42,000 new cases of bowel cancer that occur every year in the UK, 13% are caused by eating too much processed meat. Dale Vince, a green energy industrialist and campaigner, said: 'This report exposes the shocking fact that 80% of meat served in schools is either processed or is red meat, both of which are classified as carcinogenic by the WHO. Who in their right mind would do such a thing? Sign up to Headlines UK Get the day's headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning after newsletter promotion 'One of the most powerful things we can do for our health and that of our children is to reduce the consumption of meat. That's a fact. The science is clear, the benefits are obvious. The law is wrong.' A government spokesperson said: 'Through our plan for change, this government is determined to give every child the best start in life, which includes creating the healthiest generation of children in our history. 'That is why we are engaging with stakeholders on the School Food Standards to ensure that schools provide children with healthy food and drink options. 'More widely, we are urgently tackling the childhood obesity crisis by shifting our focus from treatment to prevention, including by limiting schoolchildren's access to fast food.'
Times
22-05-2025
- Health
- Times
School meals help fussy eaters try new foods, study finds
Having school meals could encourage picky teenagers to eat better, a study suggests. When children who were picky eaters got to choose their own food at school lunchtimes they ate a wider variety of food compared with those who had a packed lunch, researchers found. The findings, published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, suggested that picky eaters at the age of 13 were more likely than less choosy children to avoid meat, fish and fruit in their packed lunches. But there was little evidence of picky eaters avoiding those foods in school dinners. In the study, picky children were less likely to have meat or fish sandwiches in their packed lunches and instead have fillings such as Marmite, peanut butter or cheese
Reuters
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Exclusive: US farm agency cancels food aid for children in poor countries
WASHINGTON, May 22 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Agriculture has terminated 17 projects under a foreign aid program that funds school meals for children in low-income countries, according to an email sent from USDA to congressional staff. The cuts to the McGovern-Dole Food for Education program are in addition to 27 projects canceled last week under USDA's Food for Progress aid program, which sends U.S. commodities abroad for economic development. Those cuts were previously reported by Reuters. The terminations are another blow to U.S. foreign aid initiatives as President Donald Trump slashes government spending, leaving food intended for aid programs to rot in warehouses. The moves have raised concerns about increased hunger abroad. In all, 44 projects have been canceled in countries including Honduras, Kyrgyzstan, Sierra Leone and Nepal. The projects are "not in alignment with the foreign assistance objectives of the Trump Administration," said the email sent to congressional staff, which was seen by Reuters. A USDA spokesperson said the programs were canceled in accordance with a January 20 executive order on aligning foreign aid with U.S. interests. Earlier, the White House and the Department of Government Efficiency had pressured the USDA to reduce spending on overseas programs, according to a source familiar with the situation. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Twelve of the canceled McGovern-Dole projects are administered by the Catholic Relief Services, according to the email. Haydee Diaz, CRS's country representative in Honduras, said the group's program there serves 97,000 children across more than 1,700 schools in rural municipalities where malnutrition and stunting - a condition where children's growth is hindered due to a lack of adequate food - are serious issues. The program uses corn, rice, beans and a fortified soy blend from U.S. farmers for school meals that are prepared by 10,000 volunteers, Diaz said. The aid can help reduce migration to the U.S. because it provides parents the assurance their children will at least have one healthy meal per day in their home community, Diaz said. "What we'll see is more desperation, and more migration," Diaz said. U.S. farmers have received payment for the donated commodities and grantees must deliver commodities to their final destinations, said the email to Congress. Grantees were told by the USDA to dispose of their commodities within 30 days, according to another source familiar with the situation. That could mean giving the food away, or destroying it, the source said. Diaz said her program aims to distribute as much of the aid as it can in the short window. Despite the cuts, the USDA is still administering 14 remaining Food for Progress projects in 17 countries and 30 McGovern-Dole projects in 22 countries, the email said. The agency has also published a funding notice for next year's McGovern-Dole program and is finalizing the funding notice for Food for Progress, the email said. McGovern-Dole fed 2.5 million food-insecure children in 2023, according to a program report to Congress. McGovern-Dole awards totaled $248 million and sent more than 37,000 metric tonnes of U.S. commodities abroad.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Greenville Co. Schools offering free breakfast, lunch to children this summer
GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) — Greenville County Schools will participate in a summer program providing free breakfast and lunch for children ages 18 and younger. The Seamless Summer Food Service Program kicks off Tuesday, May 27 and will run through Thursday, July 31. All children are eligible to receive a meal at no charge. Meals must be eaten at the participating school, save for curbside pickup locations. Meals will be served at high schools, except Hillcrest High School, from May 27 through July 31. Breakfast will be available from 8:30 to 9 a.m., Monday through Thursday. Lunch will be served from11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Meals will not be served the week of July 4. Breakfast and lunch will be served from June 2 to June 26, Monday through Thursday. Breakfast is available from 7:45 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. and lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Participating elementary schools include Alexander, A.J. Whittenberg, Berea, Bryson, Buena Vista, Chandler Creek, Cherrydale, Ellen Woodside, Heritage, Lake Forest, Mauldin, Monarch, Monaview, Mountain View, Plain, Sara Collins, Summit Drive, Taylors and T.E. Kerns. Breakfast and lunch will be served from June 2 to June 26, Monday through Thursday. Breakfast is served from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and lunch will be available from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Schools serving meals include Beck, Berea, Bryson, Greer, Lakeview, Tanglewood and Woodmont. Additionally, lunch will be served at the science center from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Saturday, from Wednesday, May 28 to Saturday, July 26. The center will be closed on July 4. Both Slater Marietta Elementary and Rudolph Gordon School will offer curbside meals two times a week on Mondays and Thursdays, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. from June 2 to July 24. Pickup will be closed the week of July 4. From July 7 to July 24, Ellen Woodside Elementary will offer pickup two times a week on Mondays and Thursdays, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 'To collect meals for a child, the parent or guardian must present documentation such as a student ID, report card, or birth certificate. A parent pickup log must also be signed,' the district noted. Pickup includes bulk meals for three to four days' worth of food, which are available to qualifying children or to parents pickup up on a child's behalf. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
