The weekly Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) News Digest highlights what's new on hunger, nutrition and poverty issues at FRAC, at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, around the network of national, state and local anti-poverty and anti-hunger organizations, and in the media. The Digest will alert you to trends, reports, news items and resources and, when available, link you directly to them.

1. FRAC Alert on House Votes on Bills Affecting Nutrition Programs
2. FRAC Publishes New Advocate’s Guide to the School Nutrition Programs
3. FRAC Releases New Paper on Obesity, Food Insecurity and the Federal Nutrition Programs
4. United Nations Mission to U.S. Documents Deep Poverty as Violation of Human Rights
5. New Bankruptcy Law: Nightmare for Poor Debtors, Bad for Consumers and Economy
6. Nevada Bishop Op-Ed: All Religious Traditions Counsel Compassion toward Poor
7. Op-Ed: Cuts for Welfare Programs and Tax Cuts for the Rich Make “Distasteful Combination”
8. Congress Undermines Successful Efforts to Alleviate Hunger
9. Editorial: “Something Is Terribly Wrong” with Priorities in Congress
10. Cuts in Social Programs Inflict “Composite Misery” on Children
11. Montana: Opponents of Social Service Budget Cuts Organize Public Protest
12. Colorado: Demonstration Mocks “Reverse Robin Hood” Budget
13. Michigan: Cuts in Food Stamps Will Leave Many Families Food Insecure
14. Texas – Op-Ed: Compassionate Priorities in Congress Will Help Solve Problems of Poverty
15. Minnesota County, State Social Service Association Oppose Cuts in Social Programs
16. As Charitable Giving Grows, Less Goes to the Poor
17. Florida: School Lunch Program Helps Meet Need after Hurricane Wilma
18. Connecticut Food Pantries See “Staggering” Numbers of Clients
19. New Hampshire: High Oil Prices and Hurricanes Raise Greater Need for Help This Holiday Season
20. New Jersey: Schools Turn Down Heat for Classes, Afterschool
21. Study: One Crisis Away from Poverty for Too Many Indiana Residents
22. Florida – Editorial: Needy School Children Priced out of Healthier and More Expensive a la Carte School Lunches
23. Americans Talk “Skinny” But Eat “Fat”, Survey Shows
24. Ideas for Donations This Holiday Season

1. FRAC Alert on House Votes on Bills Affecting Nutrition Programs

(“FRAC Alert: Two Critical Bills Affecting Federal Nutrition Programs Voted on House Floor", frac.org, November 21, 2005)

Last Thursday the House of Representatives voted on two critical bills affecting federal nutrition programs: the Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Bill, and the Budget Reconciliation Bill. In an unexpected move, the House voted down the Labor-HHS-Education Bill 209 to 224. The defeat of this bill provides advocates with an opportunity to again seek continued funding for the Commodity Food and Nutrition Program (CFNP), which was provided no funding under the failed bill. The House passed its Budget Reconciliation Bill by a narrow margin, 217 to 215. Still contained within the bill are cuts to the Food Stamp Program for 70,000 legal immigrants and, overall, 220,000 to 250,000 low-income people, in addition to cuts in other social programs such as Medicaid, foster care, child support assistance, and student loans. This FRAC alert contains information and messages for use during the Congressional recess.

http://www.frac.org/Legislative/Budget_06/Alerts/11.21.05.html

2. FRAC Publishes New Advocate’s Guide to the School Nutrition Programs

(“Advocate’s Guide to the School Nutrition Programs,” frac.org, November 16, 2005)

FRAC has published an Advocate’s Guide to the School Nutrition Programs, a comprehensive 195-page Guide, which is the first complete reference manual for advocates, school administrators, educators, lawyers and paralegals, state and local officials, parent groups, and community organizations on these crucial programs that benefit millions of American children. The Guide features advocacy tips and suggestions, and explains the policies, laws, and best practices governing the federal school nutrition programs including: who is eligible for free and reduced price meals; how children and households apply for the programs; nutritional guidelines and meal quality issues; the school nutrition environment; and civil rights and privacy protections. Published in a 3-ring binder format so it can be updated, the Guide can be ordered for $35 through the FRAC Publications Department.

http://www.frac.org/pdf/advguide_school.pdf

3. FRAC Releases New Paper on Obesity, Food Insecurity and the Federal Nutrition Programs

(“Obesity, Food Insecurity and the Federal Nutrition Programs: Understanding the Linkages,” frac.org, November 17, 2005)

FRAC has released a new paper, “Obesity, Food Insecurity and the Federal Nutrition Programs: Understanding the Linkages.” The paper is a unique analysis of the dual, and simultaneous, impacts of food insecurity and obesity on low-income individuals, households, and communities. It includes information on definitions, prevalence and consequences of these public health problems for low-income people, and a detailed examination of child nutrition program operations and impacts. The paper discusses the current and future positive role that child nutrition programs can play in the prevention of the two public health problems of food insecurity and obesity. The final section on recommended policy approaches includes ideas on local wellness policies, changing competitive foods, improving school meals, implementing physical activity programs and nutrition education, and potential state and national level policy changes. This 33-page paper includes an extensive reference list and is intended to be useful to policymakers, anti-hunger advocates, and organizations and individuals that work on children’s hunger education and health issues.  

http://www.frac.org/pdf/obesity05_paper.pdf

4. United Nations Mission to U.S. Documents Deep Poverty as Violation of Human Rights

(“U.N. Finds Gaps in U.S. Social System,” upi.com, November 15, 2005)

High health care costs and lack of affordable housing exacerbate poverty in the United States, which can be seen as a human rights abuse, reported a 17-day fact-finding mission by the U.N. Commission on Human Rights last week. The mission’s goal was to learn from the U.S. experience in addressing income and human development poverty and social exclusion by touring New York urban areas, Florida farms with immigrant workers and hurricane-devastated New Orleans. “Resource constraints have limited the reach of the assistance programs, and social discrimination has aggravated the problems in many situations resulting in poverty clearly seen as a violation of human rights,” said Arjun Sengupta, the independent expert on the question of human rights and extreme poverty of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). According to UNHCR, with higher per capita income levels than any other country, the United States also has one of the highest poverty rates among the rich industrialized nations. There also is a significant disparity in poverty between African-Americans, Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites. Problems with U.S. social benefit systems hinder people in their struggle to overcome poverty. “If the United States Government designed and implemented the policies according to the human rights standards much of the problem of poverty could be resolved,” concluded Sengupta.

http://tinyurl.com/b4emz

5. New Bankruptcy Law: Nightmare for Poor Debtors, Bad for Consumers and Economy

(“Talking Points,” nytimes.com, November 15, 2005)

The new bankruptcy law that took effect October 17 may hurt not only poor people, but mainstream consumers and the economy on the whole. The new law will make life for people on the economic margins more difficult, including those who end up broke as a result of an illness, divorce or other emergency. Poor debtors will have to pay for mandatory credit counseling and get their incomes assessed through a costly lawyer’s certification process. Making people without means pay to declare bankruptcy will be an ultimate Catch-22, and one consequence will be “informal bankruptcy”. Poor debtors will avoid filing and, thus, be forced to hide from creditors by any way possible, including using high-cost “payday loans” and working for cash-only businesses. This will also affect the wider economy since these people will stop paying taxes. For the majority of consumers, the abandonment of the “fresh start” provision in the new law creates an environment in which consumer spending – normally a driver of the economy – drops. Finally, the new bankruptcy rules can scare off potential owners of small and middle-size businesses who often start them from their own savings. “The United States may be far less charitable than European countries when it comes to social welfare programs . . . , but it has long been generous in giving debtors a second chance” in recognition of law that would benefit the economy. The new law abandons that path.

http://tinyurl.com/8ewvg (subscription required)

6. Nevada Bishop Op-Ed: All Religious Traditions Counsel Compassion toward Poor

(“Should the government ask the poor to bear the most difficult burdens?” news.rgj.com, November 12, 2005)

Both houses of Congress have adopted versions of the fiscal year 2006 budget that cut programs relieving the needs of the poorest notwithstanding a 1 million increase from 2003 to 2004 in the number of Americans living in poverty, writes the Right Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Nevada, in The Reno Gazette-Journal. “We have heard a great deal in the last few years about the place of faith in politics. I believe we haven't heard enough. All of the world's great religious traditions consider that compassion toward the poor is the bedrock of the outer expression of faith.” But Congress is proposing drastic cuts to Medicaid, food stamps, and student loan programs. “What kind of religion asks children, the elderly, the poor and those who live most on the margins of society to bear the burdens of the whole? . . . . Is it justice to ask needy children to pay for the war in Iraq? Is it merciful to take food stamps away from hundreds of thousands of people in order to rebuild the Gulf Coast?” questions Bishop Schori.

http://tinyurl.com/aomdw

7. Op-Ed: Cuts for Welfare Programs and Tax Cuts for the Rich Make “Distasteful Combination”

(“Fuzzy Math Fallout,” msnbc.msn.com, November 16, 2005)

“One of the problems with using phony numbers is that they catch up with you sooner or later. That's finally happened to the Bush administration and its congressional allies, who used phony numbers to pass enormous tax cuts in 2001 and 2003, rather than settling for the very large cuts they could have gotten by playing it straight,” writes Allan Sloan, Newsweek's Wall Street editor. This “fallout from phony numbers” and the need to pay for Katrina are now giving lawmakers a hard “payback time.” Now “the it's-always-a-good-day-to-cut-taxes crew” is negotiating in Congress for $70 billion of tax cuts over five years as part of the budget reconciliation process. These cuts would primarily benefit affluent taxpayers, while billions in cuts for food stamps, Medicaid and other social programs would affect mostly low-income people. “Some members of the House and Senate now seem to have realized how distasteful this combination is. As well they should. Throw in fallout from Katrina, and you can see why Bush and his allies have had such trouble shoving these budget reconciliation tax-and-spending cuts through Congress – though they may yet prevail.”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10054025/site/newsweek/

8. Congress Undermines Successful Efforts to Alleviate Hunger

(“Interfaith Roundtable Helps Slake Oregon Hunger,” jewishreview.org, November 15, 2005)

Although recent USDA data show a 43 percent increase in hunger and food insecurity over the past five years, Oregon is no longer the hungriest state in the nation. “It demonstrates this problem is not intractable. The things you do have an effect,” said David Sarasohn, associate editor of The Oregonian in Portland, to a couple of hundred people at the Harvest of Hope Breakfast sponsored by the Oregon Faith Roundtable Against Hunger. Sarasohn critiqued the House of Representatives for trying to pass a budget with food stamp cuts affecting 300,000 people and an upper income tax cut to follow, right after USDA reported that the number of Americans living in hungry and food insecure households has risen to 38.2 million people. Frustrated that politicians claim to be “the voice of politics of faith” while cutting programs, Sarasohn said the real example of values politics is described in the Book of Ruth, which begins “There was a famine in the land…” and teaches “the responsibility and rewards of feeding people.”

http://www.jewishreview.org/Archives/Article.php?Article=2005-11-15-1808

9. Editorial: “Something Is Terribly Wrong” with Priorities in Congress

(“Moderation Needed,” washingtonpost.com, November 17, 2005)

The budget reconciliation bill is “out of balance; it asks for sacrifice from those least able to afford it and most in need of government services,” points out this editorial in The Washington Post. “Of the $50 billion-plus in scheduled ‘savings,’ most of the real cuts come out of programs for the poor . . . . Something is terribly wrong with these priorities. Moderate Republicans need to keep that in mind as the leadership presses them to back down,” argues the newspaper.

http://tinyurl.com/7ncha

10. Cuts in Social Programs Inflict “Composite Misery” on Children

(“Budget Cuts Hit Poorer Kids, Say Advocates,” news-leader.com, November 14, 2005)

The cuts in social programs being considered by Congress would affect many low-income children not only by denying them adequate nutrition through food stamps but also by taking away child care benefits from their parents. “The same poor kids keep getting hit, program by program,” says Deborah Stein of Voices for America's Children, describing the lawmakers’ plan to cut the programs as “composite misery” for affected children. “They can't get food stamps, can't see a doctor, and their parents have to work more and can't get child care.” “I feel like the system is trying to make the working poor fail,” says a single working mother of a 7-month-old baby from Detroit. Under the House plan, she would have to pay higher premiums and co-payments for the Medicaid services her son receives and would have more trouble finding subsidized day care for him. Mary Smink of Toms River, New Jersey, believes that House lawmakers “are pinning women to welfare” by not providing enough money to pay for child care: “It's just ridiculous to cut a program that helps people stay off welfare.”

http://tinyurl.com/bwot5

11. Montana: Opponents of Social Service Budget Cuts Organize Public Protest

(“Protesters Blast ‘Reverse Robin Hood,’” billingsgazette.com, November 17, 2005)

Opponents of budget cuts affecting Medicaid, food stamps and student loans gathered in Billings, Montana last Wednesday. Billings activist Scott Proctor called Congress’ decision to make the cuts “reverse Robin Hood,” while Rev. Eric Thorson labeled the cuts “Jesus in reverse” and “anti-Christian.” Thorson said that the nation’s leaders should make decisions according to the principles of the Christian faith to which they claim to belong, but in reality their actions do not conform to Christian values. He referred to the biblical parable of Lazarus, who begged at the gate of the rich man and longed to eat scraps from his table. “In telling this story, Jesus makes it clear the perpetuating economic injustice is among the gravest of sins,” Thorson said. “All 65 bishops of the church I belong to, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, have signed a letter to Congress saying that this budget is immoral.”

http://tinyurl.com/ayuj9

12. Colorado: Demonstration Mocks “Reverse Robin Hood” Budget

(“Speaker: Budget Cuts a Threat to Nations' Poor,” greeleytrib.com, November 17, 2005)

Weld County residents living on the brink of homelessness could end up on the streets if Congress passes the budget reconciliation bill with cuts in food stamps, student loans, and Medicaid. Also part of the budget reconciliation process, a tax bill would extend about $70 billion in tax cuts. Melisa Esposti, resource and development director for the Weld Food Bank, spoke at a demonstration last week organized by MoveOn.org at the University of Northern Colorado (UNC). She said about half of the 40,000 Weld residents who use the food bank are full-time workers whose wages are too low to make ends meet. If the proposed cuts passed in Congress, the Weld Food Bank would not be able to raise the money to meet the increased need. Organizers of the demonstration set a mock Thanksgiving table with empty plates labeled “student loans,” “food stamps,” and “Medicaid” and a “wealthy cronies” plate piled with food to symbolize the “reverse Robin Hood” budget.

http://tinyurl.com/8n6p7

13. Michigan: Cuts in Food Stamps Will Leave Many Families Food Insecure

(“Bill Could Put Food Pantries in Peril,” battlecreekenquirer.com, November 14, 2005)

Battle Creek residents are worried about the impact of cuts in food stamp funding if the proposal passes in Congress. In Calhoun County, more than 9,000 people receive food stamps to help put food on the table. Rachel Reed, a mother of two from Battle Creek, has been getting about $134/month in food stamp benefits since her divorce four years ago. Reed said that, without the food stamps, she has only about $30 a week for food: “I think where the cut is going to hurt is when single parents, like me, or the elderly have to choose between buying food or paying for medications.” Sherry Conine of Battle Creek says that with food stamps “my kids can eat more like they should. To eat healthy is more expensive.” Bob Randels, executive director of the Food Bank of South Central Michigan, warned: “People need to realize the amount of food stamps people are getting right now aren't lasting very long, so they will still have to come to our program. We are already seeing double-digit increases showing up on the front lines of pantries and shelters.” In Randels’ words, it is never a good time to cut the already insufficient food stamp program.

http://tinyurl.com/ahcn7

14. Texas – Op-Ed: Compassionate Priorities in Congress Will Help Solve Problems of Poverty

(“Staring at Face of Poverty,” wacotrib.com, November 15, 2005)

While pictures of the devastation in New Orleans revealed the overwhelming extent of poverty in the country, “the face of poverty is nothing new in Waco. With a per capita income of less than $15,000 and more than 25 percent of the population below the poverty line (in 2000, 19 percent of families, 31 percent of those under 18, and 13 percent of older adults), Waco ranks as among the poorest cities in the state and the nation,” writes Jon Singletary, an assistant professor of social work at Baylor University, in The Waco Tribune-Herald. As Waco cares for disaster evacuees, people are seeking solutions to solving problems of poverty at home. Jim Wallis of Sojourners magazine says it is time to move “from the politics of blame to a politics of solutions.” Full-time hard workers in Waco and throughout the nation should not have to raise their children in poverty. Opportunity and dignity are threatened when the needy rely on short-term charity while vital programs helping them to survive and break out of poverty are getting cut.

http://tinyurl.com/ckmhu

15. Minnesota County, State Social Service Association Oppose Cuts in Social Programs

(“Proposed federal budget cuts will hurt Kandiyohi County,” wctrib.com, November 17, 2005)

The House of Representatives’ budget cuts of $50 billion to social service programs endanger local programs for the needy. “These cuts would have a devastating effect. They would take a swipe at poor Americans,” said Larry Kleindl, Kandiyohi County, Minnesota Family Services director. The inclusion of an $844 million cut to food stamps over five years in the House plan “will have a daily impact to families who are struggling to get by” and use the food stamp program “because they need it,” pointed out Kleindl. The $4.9 billion cut in child support enforcement will reduce the funds and staff required to collect child support payments, which in Kandiyohi County amount to $6 for every $1 it spends on collection efforts. Collecting smaller payments will hurt children. Kleindl said he will oppose the cuts “until we win this, or get beat up.” The Minnesota Social Service Association is also urging people to voice opposition to cutting social programs.

http://www.wctrib.com/articles/index.cfm?id=1385&section=News (registration required)

16. As Charitable Giving Grows, Less Goes to the Poor

(“What Is Charity?” nytimes.com, November 14, 2005)

Traditionally, charitable giving has meant helping the needy and poor. But in 2004, the share of giving going to organizations that help the poor hit a record low, less than 10 percent of the $248 billion donated by Americans and their philanthropic institutions. Jan Masaoka of CompassPoint Nonprofit Services says that “philanthropy seems to have stopped talking about poverty and race” and the charity sector “in some ways has retreated from taking on poverty in a larger-scale, more direct way.” This raises a question, “what is charity today if it is not aimed primarily at the have-nots?” Lester M. Salamon of the Center for Civil Society Studies at Johns Hopkins University says, “I'm not for a really narrow definition of charity, but at the end of the day, it's distressing that human services attracts such a small slice of overall giving.” The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina that so powerfully exposed poverty to the public has given new hope to traditional charities to attract new and younger generations of Americans to the cause of meeting the needs of the poor.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/14/giving/14strom.html

17. Florida: School Lunch Program Helps Meet Need after Hurricane Wilma

(“School Lunch Fees Temporarily on Hold,” sun-sentinel.com, November 13, 2005)

Faced with unprecedented need to feed children affected by Hurricane Wilma, Broward County schools will temporarily waive school lunch fees. District officials are asking principals and school cafeteria workers to let children have a free lunch without first registering with the free meals program, said food and nutrition services director Barbara Leslie. “This is going to make a lot of students eligible for free and reduced lunch who weren't eligible before,” said Leslie. Students will be asked to give their names for accounting purposes. Broward homeless coordinator Dianne Sepielli expects the number of students receiving free lunches to grow over the next few weeks as more parents find themselves in a tight financial situation. “I've never seen so much need all at once,” said Dianne Sepielli, a 30-year district employee. “People have lost virtually everything.” Children from families who are already eligible for emergency food stamps automatically qualify for free school breakfasts and lunches.

http://tinyurl.com/9du3e

18. Connecticut Food Pantries See “Staggering” Numbers of Clients

(“With More Clients, Kitchens' Needs Are Growing,” rep-am.com, November 13, 2005)

Last year by this time, up to 2,000 poor people had eaten a meal at the Greater Waterbury Interfaith Ministries soup kitchen, but during this year, that number has tripled. At a ministries-operated food pantry that offers an emergency three-day supply of food, “we have people wall-to-wall from the time the pantry opens [until] it closes,” said Sue Pronovost, director of administration and resources. “We are seeing staggering numbers . . . . the real increase is in families not being able to make ends meet, including the elderly in downtown.” Joann Reynolds-Balanda of the United Way said the working poor are among those seeking help, and food stamp applications at the Connecticut Department of Social Services “are off the chart.”

http://www.rep-am.com/story.php?id=30169

19. New Hampshire: High Oil Prices and Hurricanes Raise Greater Need for Help This Holiday Season

(“Salvation Army, Food Banks Have Holiday Needs,” seacoastonline.com, November 14, 2005)

Increased oil prices and the damage from recent hurricanes have endangered the financial health of many Seacoast residents. Local charity organizations foresee a greater need during the upcoming holiday season. Hampton Salvation Army Capt. Donna Marie Reed said that more people are applying for assistance this year and, in general, people seem to be having a harder time financially. “I think people who wouldn’t accept (help) before are going to accept it now,” said Joanne Reams, co-chairwoman of Kittery Holiday Baskets.

http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/11132005/news/72864.htm

20. New Jersey: Schools Turn Down Heat for Classes, Afterschool

(“As Fuel Bills Rise, Schools Turn off Heat,” app.com, November 15, 2005)

Eight K-8 schools in Marlboro, New Jersey, turned off the heat at 11 a.m. last week following an official decision dictated by skyrocketing natural gas and fuel costs. Cold classrooms will serve to offset a projected $375,000 school budget shortfall. “In order to insure your child's comfort, please make sure that he/she comes to school dressed in layers . . . ,” instructed a letter from school officials to Marlboro parents. Schools asked bus drivers not to wait at bus stops for children who may be running late. New Jersey schools are not alone. Schools in two districts in the Cleveland area plan to lower classroom temperatures during the day and set them to 60 degrees for afterschool activities. School officials in Niagara, Wisconsin are asking the state to shorten the school week in order to reduce rising heating costs. New Jersey State Sen. Ellen Karcher is lending her support to a federal School Energy Crisis Relief Act, which would require oil companies to use a portion of their profits to pay for school fuel bills. Karcher said that she was concerned about pupils’ health, including the health of children studying in trailers. District Business Administrator Cindy Barr-Rague said, “If it gets that cold, we're going to turn the heat back on. We're not going to try to make the kids function in an icebox.”

http://tinyurl.com/7g2qz

21. Study: One Crisis Away from Poverty for Too Many Indiana Residents

(“More Hoosiers Are Struggling,” indystar.com, November 17, 2005)

A sluggish economy, along with the disappearance of high-paying manufacturing jobs, has exacerbated the plight of thousands of Indiana working families. The state’s food stamp enrollment jumped 74 percent and the number of students eligible for free school lunches rose 30 percent between 2000 and 2004, according to the "Kids Count in Indiana 2005" annual data book by the Indiana Youth Institute. While high numbers of low-birthweight babies, single-parent households and teen parents are the perennial issues cited in this year’s report, the food stamp and school lunch figures are new and startling, noted Bill Stanczykiewicz, the institute's president and CEO. “What the data shows is that the number of families struggling to just get by is growing. Many of these families are just one crisis away from poverty.” The report also found a 36 percent decrease from 2000 to 2004 in the number of children receiving child care vouchers caused by new eligibility requirements, a change creating big problems for many parents. An estimated 735,000 children, 41 percent of Indiana’s children, are living in families that cannot meet their basic needs.

http://tinyurl.com/bpdos

http://www.iyi.org/statistics_facts/indiana_book.html (Kids Count in Indiana Data Book)

22. Florida – Editorial: Needy School Children Priced out of Healthier and More Expensive a la Carte School Lunches

(“Trial Lunch Program Overlooks Poor Kids,” sptimes.com, November 15, 2005)

A new Pasco County, Florida schools trial program, FunMeals, offers a la carte lunches that are healthier than regular school lunches. The program aims to improve students’ eating habits and prevent childhood obesity. But the cost of eating through the new program, $2.75 daily is $1 more per day than the regular-priced school lunch. Given the fact that nearly 44 percent of Pasco's school children, or 26,561 students, receive free or reduced-price lunches, Fun Meals miss these key audiences that are the most at risk of becoming overweight. Although the trial program is being run at four elementary schools with fewer needy children than the countywide average, it can still price out one of every four students at Pine View Elementary and one of every five at Denham Oaks Elementary who qualify for free meals. Too often, schools' health and nutrition decisions are driven by the bottom line. Seven years ago, the school district opened the door to Pepsi-Cola’s sugary drinks in exchange for athletic equipment and other extras. “Encouraging better nutrition and a more active lifestyle for children is a laudable goal. But, it shouldn't come with a cost beyond the reach of children who need it most,” argues this editorial in The St. Petersburg Times.

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/11/15/Pasco/Trial_lunch_program_o.shtml

23. Americans Talk “Skinny” But Eat “Fat”, Survey Shows

(“Survey: Most Americans Don’t Follow Their Own Nutrition Advice,” amonline.com, November 15, 2005)

Twenty three percent of Americans do not pay attention to nutritional facts and figures; 59 percent are aware of, but do not follow, the dietary guidelines of the USDA Food Pyramid; and only 26 percent know that the Pyramid was revised in January, according to Parade magazine’s 2005 “What American Eats” survey. What Americans say and what they do are two different things when it comes to their eating habits. People in this country suffer from “dietary schizophrenia”: they “talk skinny” but “eat fat,” commented Tim Ryan, president of the Culinary Institute of America. The majority (84 percent) says they try to eat a well-balanced diet but mostly fail. Yet consumers worry about obesity: 80 percent think that it needs to be addressed by food companies, and 71 percent say it needs to be addressed by the government.

http://www.amonline.com/article/article.jsp?id=14883&siteSection=1

24. Ideas for Donations This Holiday Season

(“Give Thanks This Holiday Season by Giving Gifts of Food,” billingsgazette.com, November 16, 2005)

Dayle Hayes, a nutritionist and consultant to Billings Clinic and Eat Right Montana, offers ideas for food and nutrition gifts this holiday season. As a personal donation, invite someone with limited income to share food with you in your home or other place. Donate money, food and/or time to local food banks, food pantries and soup kitchens that are always in need of donations. Think about the nutritional quality of your food gifts. High-calorie canned foods such as tuna, chicken, beans, hearty soups and peanut butter make better gifts in smaller packages. National groups like America’s Second Harvest support large-scale food programs and need assistance to coordinate and distribute large corporate donations and to advocate for effective public policies on hunger, nutrition and food security. The Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) works to improve public policies to eradicate hunger and undernutrition in the United States. FRAC website, http://www.frac.org, describes many ways to get involved in FRAC programs. Also, consider contributions to global hunger fighting efforts. The United National Children's Fund (800-553-1200; http://www.unicef.org) offers numerous ways to help impoverished children and their families around the world.

http://tinyurl.com/7mgrt

For news tips, suggestions, comments, contact Olga Doty at odoty@frac.org

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