A healthy eating revolution is underway in California.  Sodas and most junk foods have been removed from vending machines in schools.  The Food Stamp Program is aiming to test an incentive to make it easier for recipients to afford fresh produce.  Chain restaurants will make it easier to identify healthier choices through menu labeling.  And communities around the state have taken local actions to support healthy eating.

These are all important steps but the revolution must continue and it must start at earlier ages.  Nearly 25 percent of children under the age of five are overweight or obese.  This means that during their formative years children are getting accustomed to eating unhealthy diets before they even enter school.  Over the years, the Governor has supported legislation to combat obesity and encourage healthy eating.  Now, we must improve healthy eating opportunities for children in child care, which is why you must......

URGE GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER TO SIGN AB 627!

Problem:  Nearly 1 in 4 children under the age of 5 is overweight or obese. 

With nearly 25 percent of children aged two to five overweight or obese, the need for action is great.  We all know the impact of poor nutrition and obesity on health, academic performance, productivity, and the economy.  Recent estimates place the cost of overweight, obesity, and physical inactivity in California at $42 billion in 2006.  California has done much to encourage healthier eating in schools through improving competitive food standards and school meals.  But, with the problem of poor nutrition clearly starting at younger ages, we must now act earlier.  AB 627 would do just this by improving nutrition in child care – a largely neglected area with respect to nutrition and activity. 

Why Should the Governor Sign AB 627?

AB 627 would cost the state no money and would replicate a successful model used to develop California’s current competitive food standards.  Earlier this decade, SB 19 (Escutia) established a pilot program to test competitive food standards in schools.  These pilots were rigorously evaluated by UC Berkeley and the evaluation results formed the basis of our current statewide standards.
 
AB 627 replicates this model for child care – a setting ripe for action to improve activity and nutrition.  AB 627 establishes a pilot program, using federal and private grant funds, to test stronger nutrition and activity standards in the federally-funded Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).  CACFP reimburses child care centers and homes for serving meals and snacks to low-income children.  The results of this pilot program and the evaluation would form the basis for future statewide action. 
   

    - AB 627 is fiscally responsible in these tough budget times.

    - AB 627 springs from the recommendations of stakeholder groups convened by the Superintendent of    

      Public Instruction and the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

    - AB 627 uses non-General Fund money for an innovative nutrition and physical activity pilot.

    - It is modeled after successful pilots to test school nutrition standards.

    - CA would pioneer improvements to the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program.

    - AB 627 has broad support from the public health, nutrition, early childhood, and anti-hunger

      communities.

TAKE ACTION NOW!

Fax this letter to the Governor.  Please use this easily adaptable form letter to tell the governor you or your organization supports this bill.  The Governor's fax number is 916.558.3160.
 

Call the Governor now.  Call the Governor's office to let him know the importance of signing this bill.  The Governor's Office number is 916.445.2841.  (For those of you not familiar with calling the Governor, click here for fun videos we made last year showing just how easy it is to make the call!)
 

Get your friends, family, and others to do the same.  Please forward this alert to any and all interested organizations or individuals.

Questions?  Need help?  Contact Kumar Chandran, kumar@cfpa.net, 510.433.1122 x129

Copyright © CFPA   

Contact:  kumar@cfpa.net

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