PHOENIX, Oct. 12 (UPI) -- President George W. Bush on Tuesday recognized efforts to provide school children wholesome lunches by declaring Oct. 10-16 National School Lunch Week.
The National School Lunch Program was started almost 60 years ago and currently serves about 28 million children daily.
"In addition to providing the good nutrition that helps young people succeed in school, healthy school lunches and after-school snacks can help alleviate childhood obesity and lower children's risk of developing health problems," Bush said in a proclamation. "The
National School Lunch Program also shares information about healthy eating habits with children, families, and communities; works to provide our children with the best possible school meals; and offers technical training and assistance to school food-service staff."
Bush said that earlier this year he signed into law the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 to continue supporting nutritional programs.
Bush issued the proclamation from Phoenix, where he was staying in advance of Wednesday's presidential debate at Arizona State University in Tempe.
