I hope that all Americans will join me in recognizing the importance of practicing healthy eating habits during National Nutrition Month.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, poor eating habits contribute to a host of diseases, including obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers.  We can take several steps to improve our eating habits.  Reducing portion sizes, eating balanced meals, and increasing physical activity are all important factors in achieving this goal.   

Thanks to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, great progress is being made in the fight for good nutrition in America.  This law includes several provisions that will support Americans in their quest for healthier eating habits. First, a National Prevention, Health Promotion, and Public Health Council will be established within the Department of Health and Human Services to develop a National Prevention and Health Promotion Strategy.  Nutritional education through preventive health services programs will be available for everyone in America, including infants, children and adolescents.  Next, Medicare will provide nutritional education through lifestyle modification in annual wellness visits.  As for Medicaid, states will be able to apply for grants that will incentivize beneficiaries who successfully exercise weight control, lower blood pressure, and decrease diabetes risk. Other provisions for community-based outreach in preventive health, including nutrition education, are also included as part of the health care law.  Even restaurants are mandated to promote healthy eating in that establishments with more than 20 locations must list calorie count information for menu item selections.  Other nutritional information, such as the amount of sodium, cholesterol, protein, unsaturated and saturated fat, total and complex carbohydrates, sugar, and dietary fiber in food must be made available in writing upon request.

Our New York district was honored recently with a visit from First Lady Michelle Obama.  She enthusiastically engaged local children in physical activity and taught them the importance of taking care of their bodies.  She continues to educate millions of people in this manner through her 'Let's Move' campaign, which emphasizes healthy eating and regular physical activity as the foundation of her advocacy efforts for our nation's health.  Today, I join Mrs. Obama in her quest for a healthier America through better nutrition.  Working together, I know that we can make this happen."