Franko Group Policy Blog

Free and Healthy Lunches for K-2nd Graders

May 28, 2008 on 3:21 am | In Free and Reduced Lunch | No Comments

Another bill that was recently sent to Governor Ritter for his signature would provide free AND healthy lunches to those Kindergarten-2nd Graders in Colorado who now just receive reduced priced lunches.

SB08-123 would increase the number of children receiving free lunches by including kids who would otherwise only qualify for reduced price lunches. One of the best parts of this bill, though, is its recognition that the free lunches we provide to kids from low-income families should be HEALTHY. What a novel idea!

The bill would:

INCREASE STUDENTS’ CONSUMPTION OF WHOLE GRAINS, FRUITS
AND VEGETABLES, VITAMINS, CALCIUM, PROTEIN, FIBER, AND IRON; AND
REDUCE THE CONSUMPTION OF SODIUM, CHOLESTEROL, SUGAR, AND
CALORIES

It also aims to lessen childhood obesity and type-2 diabetes, and decrease health costs associated with children’s unhealthy diets.

Hooray to the legislators who developed and passed this legislation. It’s also great to see it start with some of our youngest children in the K-12 system. Hopefully, it won’t be long before all low-income students can have access to free AND healthy school lunches.