Federal

USDA Awards $8 Million for Healthier Foods in Schools, Child Care Centers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that it is awarding $8.2 million in grants in the pursuit of healthier meals at schools, child care settings, and summer meal sites. Approximately two-thirds of the funding will go toward nutrition education and staff training with the remaining dollars covering implementation of new professional standards for school food service employees.   

White House Proclamation Marks National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

President Barack Obama signed a proclamation designating September 2015 as National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. The proclamation notes a recent plateauing of childhood obesity rates and a recent drop in obesity among children ages 2 to 5; it also calls for ongoing action to improve children’s health, including upholding federal nutrition standards for school meals. 

Hearing Held Today on Chicago Soda Tax Bill

A bill that would institute a penny-per-ounce tax on soda and other sugary drinks in Chicago will be the subject of a hearing today from the Chicago City Council’s Committee on Health and Environmental Protection. The revenue from the tax would be directed to a new Chicago Wellness Fund, which would fund school- and community-based health and wellness programs. 

FNV Campaign Airs First Television Ads

A national campaign to promote fruits and vegetables launched its first round of television ads in Fresno, Calif., and Hampton Roads, Va. The initial ads from the FNV campaign—managed by the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) with a variety of partners, including the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation—focus on persuading athletes and celebrities to encourage teenagers to eat fruits and vegetables. 

‘Serving Up School Lunches of Tomorrow’ (Opinion)

The New York Times, Mark Bittman, 9/8/2015

One of the proving grounds is San Francisco, where the school district is joining with researchers from the Department of Agriculture and the University of California, Berkeley’s School of Public Health to evaluate a project designed to increase school lunch participation, improve nutrition, reduce waste and ultimately counter tendencies toward obesity.

Upcoming Events

Obesity in the Early Years: State of the Science and Implementation of Promising Solutions
October 6, 2015
8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET
Washington, DC

Hosted by the Institute of Medicine’s Roundtable on Obesity Solutions, this workshop will highlight the science and recent developments in the understanding of early childhood obesity and cover strategies that hold the greatest promise for progress in reducing obesity prevalence, especially in populations at greatest risk. Register for the workshop.

Towards Evidence-based Nutrition and Obesity Policy: Methods, Implementation, and Political Reality
October 16, 2015
8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET
New York City

Hosted by the National Academy of Sciences, this conference will focus on the latest methods in nutrition research and how nutrition research can be used to inform policy. Register for the conference.

2016 RWJF Culture of Health Prize: Phase I Applications
November 12, 2015 (deadline for Phase I applications)

Sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the RWJF Culture of Health Prize recognizes and celebrates communities that have placed a priority on health and are creating powerful partnerships and deep commitments to make change. Up to 10 winning communities will each receive a $25,000 cash prize and have their success stories celebrated and shared broadly to inspire locally-driven change across the nation. Phase I applications for all applicant communities are due on November 12, 2015; winners will be announced in the fall of 2016. Learn more and apply online.