Greetings! There's so much to talk about this week, from Dairy Queen pulling soda from kids menus, to reflecting on food justice, to yummy summer recipes. Please read and share!
1. HOT LINE
#MissionPossible
This week MomsRising joined dozens of women leaders, including elected leaders Nancy Pelosi and Congresswoman Doris O. Matsui on Capitol Hill to launch #MissionPossible! We're making the case for essential family economic security policies like paid leave, paid sick days, quality affordable childcare and more. Making our national economy stronger is our #MissionPossible! Join us!
BREAKING: Moms applaud Dairy Queen’s decision to make parents' lives easier, pull soda from kid’s menus!
Join us in celebrating Dairy Queen's decision to remove all soda pop products from their kid's menus, saving adults from having to explain yet again the perils of sugary drinks and endure more eyerolls. And a BIG HIGH FIVE to everyone who's added their voice to the call for fast food restaurants to back parents up in keeping our kids and families healthy. Read more.
Reflecting on food justice
Check out excerpts from the conversation on the GFF Facebook Group (which you should totally join!)
- “For me it's the universal access of healthy and fresh food that we need to live. I don't view this as a luxury item -- but a human right!”
- "A significant component is the emphasis on helping youth access healthy food and learn how to grow and prepare healthy foods for themselves..."
- “I would add - justice within the food production system as well. We shouldn't be exposing those who grow and harvest our foods to unsafe chemicals, and they should be respected and paid a living wage.”
- On promoting food justice: "I don't see a better way than sharing where the greatest need is. At food pantries, summer sports fields, YouTube, even in conjunction with stay-at-home mom groups, farmers markets and rec centers.”
Quick links:
- How personal responsibility framing undermines efforts to improve public health, Fernando Quintero. BMSG blog.
- Safety net does more to ease poverty than previously thought, new study finds. The Washington Post, May 6, 2015. In 2012, federal safety net programs cut the poverty rate by more than half, reducing it from 29.1 percent to 13.8 percent and lifting 48 million people above the poverty line, including 12 million children.
- Statement from Secretary Vilsack on New Data Showing the Vast Majority of Schools Now Meet the Updated Meals Standards. USDA website.
- Food Revolution Day: Fight for Food Education, Jamie Oliver. MomsRising.org blog.
- Where We Live Matters. It affects food choices, Migdalia Rivera. MomsRising.org blog.
2. JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Connect, learn and share this month
- Don't miss out! Host a Cafeteria Man screening this spring! Sign up to get your free screening kit today! Gather some friends and make it a date! Request the film and screening guide here. Contact Karen@momsrising.org with questions.
- Fri May 15, 1pm ET: #FoodFri Tweetchat: Summer meals for kids and teens. More than 21m kids depend on free or reduced-price school meals during the school year, and when school cafeterias close many of these children lose their most important source of balanced nutrition. Join @Momsrising and @USDANutrition to discuss summer meals for kids and teens.
- Sat May 16, 12pm ET: Good Food Force Meet Up in Winter Park, FL. Join the Good Food Force and the Alpha Kappa Alpha's Nu Iota Omega in Margaret Square.
3. SALAD BAR
Healthy fruit popsicle recipe
This yogurt fruit popsicles recipe is totally adaptable. You can choose pretty much any fruit. Sample recipe: Ingredients: 1c yogurt, 1c sliced fruit, 1Tbsp honey. Combine all, fill popsicle molds, freeze, enjoy! Read more on the MomsRising blog.
Thank you for all you do!
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Good Food Force (GFF) Volunteers are real-life superheroes who take action in their schools and communities, and/or on their blogs and online networks, to get the word out about healthy school foods, junk food marketing to kids, and strategies that are working to reduce childhood obesity. Together with MomsRising.org staff, they help advocate for healthier kids and families. Help spread the word! Contact us: karen@momsrising.org
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