[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 125, 112th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
Proclamation 8733 of October 7, 2011

National School Lunch Week, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Children are America's greatest treasure, and ensuring their health is
one of our most important duties as parents, families, and community
members. Our children's continued ability to learn in the classroom,
grow up healthy, and reach their full potential will depend on what we
do now to secure their future. The National School Lunch Program has
been a central part of our Nation's commitment to healthy children since
its inception in 1946, improving the nutrition of generations of
children with affordable, nutritious meals at school. It now serves tens
of millions of children every day.

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Despite our successes, too many American children go without proper
nutrition. One-third of children in our country are overweight or obese,
and without a major change, one-third of children born in the year 2000
will develop Type 2 diabetes during their lifetime. Schools are central
to improving child health, as children who eat both school breakfast and
lunch may consume more than half their daily calories at school.
The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 has brought historic reform to
school meal programs. The law takes new steps to address childhood
obesity by setting nutritional standards for foods sold in schools,
updating requirements for school wellness policies, and providing more
nutritional information to parents. It also works to eliminate hunger
during the school day by increasing the number of eligible children
enrolled in school meal programs and removing barriers to school meals
for children most in need.
First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative has worked with
schools nationwide to create healthy opportunities for children. This
year, we exceeded our goal of doubling the number of schools that meet
the HealthierUS School Challenge. We have also engaged child care
providers in adopting healthier practices, and this year 1.7 million
Americans achieved the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award.
To advance our goals even further, Let's Move! has collaborated with
individuals and organizations across our Nation to bring over 800 salad
bars to schools, providing thousands of children with greater access to
fruits and vegetables. School nutrition professionals, chefs, students,
parents, and communities have also used their talents to develop
nutritious foods for schools through the Recipes for Healthy Kids
competition and the Chefs Move to Schools initiative.
Good nutrition at school is an investment in our children's futures.
During National School Lunch Week, we thank the food program
administrators, educators, parents, and communities who provide for our
Nation's sons and daughters, and we recommit to ensuring all our
children have the healthy food they need to grow and succeed.
The Congress, by joint resolution of October 9, 1962 (Public Law 87-
780), as amended, has designated the week beginning on the second Sunday
in October each year as ``National School Lunch Week,'' and has
requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of this
week.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim the week of October 9 through October 15,
2011, as National School Lunch Week. I call upon all Americans to join
the dedicated individuals who administer the National School Lunch
Program in appropriate activities that support the health and well-being
of our Nation's children.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventh day of
October, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA