Improving Nutrition Standards for Children

With the shared goal of creating healthier places for people to live, site leaders representing the 7 major multi-sited, multi-sector Convergence initiatives identified Improving Nutrition Standards in those places where children spend most of their time, (including schools, after school and childcare environments), as one of four policy priority areas for collective action. The goal of this arena is to develop standards that represent a balanced, healthy diet for children, and that set the bar higher than simply eliminating junk food from these environments. Within this arena, a broad range of strategies were identified that hold potential for Convergence efforts, including strategies that focus on local, state and national levels. During the Convergence conference on June 1-2, 2008, site leaders, community residents, advocates, technical support providers and other key players will identify a narrower range of options on which communities can focus their collective strength, and can leverage opportunities to advance policies and systems change. Next steps and actions in this policy arena will be carried out following the conference.

Discussions of specific topics within this policy arena appear on the Virtual Peer Learning Network (VPLN/Ning).

Click here to view forum policy discussions on the VPLN/Ning.