US Military Depends on Health of our Children!
While I understand the challenges and costs of implementation, House action on June 16 to roll back new nutrition standards in our schools will not only be a setback for our children, but also for our military (“Showdown looms in House over public school lunches,” June 15). With one in four young adults ages 17 to 24 too overweight to join the armed forces, obesity poses a serious threat to our future military readiness by limiting the pool of young adults qualified to enlist. To combat child obesity, it makes sense to focus on improving food served in our schools, since many children consume as much as half of their daily calories during school hours.
Last year more than 100 retired admirals and generals of the nonprofit group Mission: Readiness, including myself, strongly supported passage of the “Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act” to update school meal standards so that they reflect the latest dietary guidelines. This summer, Congress can help finish the job by supporting the swift implementation of science-based meal standards. By enhancing the quality of meals that end up on millions of school trays every day, we can improve our nation’s long-term health and ultimately strengthen our national security. (as printed in TheHill.com From Ret. Lt. Gen. Norman R. Seip, U.S. Air Force, Alexandria, Va.)
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