HR0595 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0595 LRB093 14756 MKM 40305 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, School meals must meet certain nutritional standards in order for a school food service program to receive federal subsidies; and

WHEREAS, These standards now include a requirement that school meals must contain at least 30% or less of their calories from fat and less than 10% of their calories from saturated fat; and

WHEREAS, In 1993, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) began the "School Meals Initiative for Healthy Children", a major reform of the school meal programs with the purpose of improving the nutritional content of school lunches and breakfasts; and

WHEREAS, Despite these standards and reforms, only 15% of schools nationwide meet the saturated fat standards for lunches; and

WHEREAS, 3 out of 4 high school students do not eat the minimum recommended daily amount of 5 servings of fruits or vegetables each day; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the Illinois State Board of Education to develop guidelines concerning how schools can meet the USDA standards for saturated fat, as well as provide healthier alternatives; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge school districts to design a school lunch menu for at least one week out of every month that meets the USDA saturated fat standards and promotes more nutritional meal selections; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Illinois State Board of Education for distribution to all school districts.