RE: H.R.

3323 Sarah Newton

February 25, 2018

debbie.dingell@mail.house.gov
Representative Deborah Dingell
301 West Michigan Avenue
Suite 400
Ypsilanti, MI 48197

Re: House Bill No. 3323

Dear Representative Dingell:

In reading bill H.R. 3323, that may be cited the “Nutrition Education Act” intends to
amend section 9A of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act. Currently, this act does
not specify requirements regarding the amount of time or type of classes that school children
have to spend or take in nutrition education. In summary, the expectation is to amend the Richard
B. Russell National School Lunch Act to require that local school wellness policies include a
requirement that students receive fifty hours of school nutrition education per school year as it is
thought to be necessary to influence behavior. The bill states that the mean hours spent in
nutrition education in the first four years of school is only thirteen hours per year. That is simply
not enough. I am writing in hopes you vote for this bill.
Practically all public schools offer some nutrition education. However, the intensity and
quality of the nutrition messages to students is unknown. Poor eating habits and physical
inactivity can contribute to various educational risks such as behavioral problems, short-term
thinking, lack of motivation, disengagement from learning, and absenteeism. These outcomes
will have a direct impact on the future state of society. For example, attending school without a
nutritious breakfast has a consistent impact on ones’ readiness to learn. Additionally, education
standards could capture and embody the collective responsibility of society to counter obesity
and poor health outcomes. Activities such as contests, promotions, taste testing, and gardens can
entice students to expand their interest in receiving ample nutrition education. Obesity is a
serious problem across income levels and demographic groups. Children suffer from
discrimination from peers, as well as bullying, despite the commonality of it in school aged
children. Furthermore, other consequences of inadequate nutrition may result in a child
exhibiting cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, orthopedic problems, and asthma. Poor
nutrition also continues to affect bone and dental health which may affect a child’s ability to eat,
speak, and attending to learning. Therefore, adequate nutrition education is imperative to change
poor health outcomes.
Teachers themselves require training to learn the basics after being bombarded by a series
of accurate and in inaccurate information. An understanding of the importance of nutritional
balance and portion sizes is necessary to be incorporated across the curriculum to capture the
minds of students. Teachers need to be empowered to assist them in understanding proper
implementation of adequate nutrition and how it can improve their classrooms. Personally, I was
not given the opportunity to receive adequate instruction through my elementary and secondary
education. I believe I would have had the opportunity to develop proper dietary habits that would
have possibly increased educational success. Also, I would have had the ability to take the tools
learned into my college career.
RE: H.R. 3323 Sarah Newton

Quality nutrition education and physical activity can ease pressures on school budgets,
help students make wholesome choices that become lifelong habits, and improve health. If
nutritious foods are made available to schools, healthy eating would considerably increase.

Sincerely,
Sarah Newton
4510 Larme. Ave
Allen Park MI, 48101
RE: H.R. 3323 Sarah Newton

References

Authors, n. (2018). Nutrition Education in the K-12 Curriculum: The role of National Standards:
Workshop Summary- PubMed- NCBI. [online] Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Available at:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/mubmed24872985 [accessed 23 Feb. 2018].

Nces.ed.gov (2018). Highlights, Nutrition Education in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools.
[online] Available at: https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/frss/publications/96852/ [Accessed 23
Feb.2018].

authors, n. (2018). Nutrition Education in the K-12 Curriculum: The Role of National Standards:
Workshop Summary - PubMed - NCBI. [online] Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Available at:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24872985 [Accessed 23 Feb. 2018].