Erica Gilliam

letter to the editor

As a Healthy Schools Program Manager with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, I work with schools in Louisiana and serve as a certified technical assistance provider for the Smarter Lunchrooms Movement.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue’s announcement on May 1 that the federal government will delay implementation of school nutrition standards aimed at reducing sodium and increasing whole grains does not reflect the tremendous progress and success I have seen in schools throughout Louisiana.

In 2016, Curtis Elementary School was nationally recognized by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation for meeting or exceeding the updated federal nutrition standards for school meals, which include increased fruits and vegetables, whole grain-rich items and meals lower in saturated fat.

At Curtis Elementary in Bossier Parish, their wellness council worked with the cafeteria staff to implement strategies through the Smarter Lunchrooms Movement, which is aimed to improve consumption of healthy foods and reduce food waste.

Providing students with appealing, nutritious meals takes dedication and commitment. But I’ve seen that, when schools receive adequate support, school leaders are eager to make changes, students are enthusiastic about healthier meals, and parents are overwhelmingly supportive of healthy changes.

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation has worked with more than 35,000 schools across the country to implement healthier meals that meet standards required by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, which were derived from the best scientific evidence of children’s dietary needs.

Now is not the time to reverse progress. We must instead focus on giving schools the support they need to keep kids healthy.

Erica Gilliam

Bossier City