Believe in Balance Podcast Episode 9
By David Dansereau,MSPT Nutritionist, and Volunteer School Health Educator
In a deeply concerning move last month and policy shift away from ‘Making America Healthy Again', the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it is cutting $1 billion in funding from two key programs that support schools and food banks in purchasing fresh food from local farms.
These programs are the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program and the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program. Both initiatives enabled schools and food banks to procure fresh produce, dairy, and meats directly from local farms and ranchers. The termination of these programs is shortsighted, is poised to have detrimental effects on public health, particularly among vulnerable populations, and may lead to increased healthcare expenditures in the long term
This decision threatens to unravel the slow progress schools have made in improving access to nutritious food for underserved communities, especially children.
As a healthcare professional, nutritionist, and volunteer school health educator for over a decade also serving on multiple school health and wellness committees in my district to try to bring more opportunities to support the health of young bright minds, I see this as a step backward—not only for public health but for the sustainability of our entire healthcare system.
I’ll unpack it all in this episode!
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Achieve Balance Article- The USDA’s $1 Billion Federal Food Cuts Jeopardize the Health of America’s Youngest Bright Minds and Our Future Healthcare System
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