Release No. 0304.04

Contact: Jean Daniel (202) 720-4623 
Susan Acker 703-305-2286 

USDA Awards $4 Million in Nutrition Training Grants 

WASHINGTON, July 26, 2004 –Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today announced a HealthierUS School Initiative and Team Nutrition training grants totaling $4 million to help state agencies improve children’s lifelong eating and physical activity habits. 

“This Administration is working to combat obesity by educating young people about healthy eating and physical activity,” said Veneman. “These Team Nutrition grants provide schools with an additional resource to promote the importance of exercise and good nutrition. The HealthierUS School Initiative is designed to challenge schools to take significant steps to improve meals, provide nutrition education and incorporate physical activity to combat childhood overweight and obesity.” 

Improving personal health and fitness is a top priority for President Bush. In 2002, President Bush launched the HealthierUS initiative by directing all Federal Departments to work together to develop plans to help American live longer, better and healthier lives. Components of the initiative include participating in daily physical activity, eating a healthy diet, getting preventive screenings and making healthy choices. 

The HealthierUS Schools Initiative challenges schools to continue to improve the school nutrition environment. In order to be recognized, schools must meet nutrition standards throughout the school campus, provide nutrition education and incorporate physical activity to earn the HealthierUS School designation. 

Team Nutrition provides schools with nutrition education materials for children and families; technical assistance materials for school food service directors, managers and staff; and materials to build school and community support for healthy eating and physical activity. State agency partners provide training and technical assistance to support these programs in local schools. 

“Partnerships among the Federal, state and local programs are essential to improve the health of our children,” said Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Eric M. Bost, who made the grant announcements and issued the HealthierUS School Initiative challenge during the America School Food Service Association Annual Conference in Indianapolis, Ind. “Team Nutrition training grants and this initiative assist state agencies in achieving the goal of improving children’s lifelong eating and physical activity habits.” 

The 21 states receiving the grants will use the funds to deliver new and innovative behavior-focused nutrition education strategies for children and their caregivers through the state agencies that administer the National School Lunch Program and the Child and Adult Care Food Programs. In addition, states can use the funds to provide training and technical assistance for child nutrition professionals, including improved techniques for preparing nutritious, appealing meals. 

Team Nutrition training grants were awarded to the following states through a competitive grants process: Arizona, Connecticut, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. More information about Team Nutrition is available at http://www.fns.usda.gov/ . 

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