Dear Marianne,

Welcome to this week's Good Food Force update! Please find updates, resources and action ideas below. 

1. The Hot Line: Threats to healthy lunches, and No Big Potato! 

Healthy changes to school meals are under attack! 
We're anticipating a new pushback on the meal standards, which went into effect this school year. The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture is considering measures that would threaten the whole-grain-rich requirement, sodium requirements, and restrictions on sales of competitive foods. Moms have spoken out in overwhelming support of the new meal standards, and we'll need everyone to join in raising our voices once again. Read more in Politico, and watch for opportunities to speak out with MomsRising.org and our partners in the coming days! 

Join us in urging Congress to side with science and nutrition, not Big Potato! 
Right now, the Big Potato corporate lobby is pressuring a bi-partisan group of U.S. Senators to specifically legislate that white potatoes must be included in the WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) food package offered to pregnant moms, babies, and toddlers.

The foods placed in the package are chosen based on a careful scientific process led by nutritionists and health professionals at the Institute of Medicine (IOM). Most specifically, the WIC packages are designed to provide nutrients that participants aren’t getting on their own. In its study of the current diets of WIC package recipients, the IOM discovered that WIC recipients are already eating sufficient amounts of starchy vegetables (like potatoes). To achieve a well-balanced diet, participants mostly need additional fruits and vegetables in the WIC package.

**It’s us--moms and dads across the nation--who can save the WIC program from the potato industry lobbyists by making our voices heard now. So please take a moment to click through here: http://action.momsrising.org/go/4603?ak_proof=1&t=2&akid=.2138404.craY1i. Read more on our blog. 

2. Morning Stretch: #FoodFri discusses Fed Up movie; Food Revolution Day this Friday!

• Join us for the next #FoodFri Tweetchat: Fed Up, the Film and Challenge - to learn more about the film the food industry doesn't want you to see and take up the challenge to cut sugar, all added sugar, out of your diet for 10 days. The mission, should you choose to accept it, won’t be easy but we think you're worth it. Don't you? Join us tomorrow May 16 at 1pm ET on Twitter! Just follow #FoodFri and @MomsRising to participate. Click here for details: http://action.momsrising.org/go/4479?ak_proof=1&t=5&akid=.2138404.craY1i
• Remember, this Friday is Food Revolution Day! Chef Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution Day is a fun moment to promote healthy eating! This year's focus is on healthy cooking, and the Food Revolution website has lots of ideas, activities, printables and more: http://action.momsrising.org/go/4443?ak_proof=1&t=7&akid=.2138404.craY1i. Why not use this as a moment to make a healthy meal with your family, at your workplace, or in your kids' school? It's fun and easy. And if you do something to celebrate Food Revolution Day, please snap and share photos with us on Facebook:http://action.momsrising.org/go/1029?ak_proof=1&t=9&akid=.2138404.craY1i! 

3. Recess: Mother's Day breakfast in bed disaster! 

One of our favorites from the internet this week:http://action.momsrising.org/go/4480?ak_proof=1&t=11&akid=.2138404.craY1i

4. Salad Bar: Five things you should know about Smart Snacks  

Earlier this week MomsRising and the NEA-HIN co-hosted a webinar on the new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Smart Snacks in School rule. The rule will go into effect during the 2014-15 school year, and ensures that snack foods and beverages sold during the school day are healthy. Here are five things you need to know about Smart Snacks:

• The rule applies to all foods and beverages sold to students during the school day, including a la carte, school stores, vending machines, snack bars, etc.
• The rule also applies to fundraisers if they take place in the school during the school day.
• The rule set limits for fat, saturated fat, trans fat, sodium, calories and total sugar. 
• As a general rule, foods must meet the above and be a whole grain-rich product, OR have a fruit/veggie/dairy/product/protein as a first ingredient OR be a combination food with at least 1/4 cup fruit or veggie OR contain 10% of the Daily Value of one nutrient of public health concern.
• Drinks are included! The standards set limits on serving sizes, calories, and caffeine.

Join us in keeping the momentum going in support of Smart Snacks! Support your school, talk to other parents, and get your kids excited. These are important changes that make a big difference in promoting a healthy school day. 

5. After-School Snack: Make a Rainbow Salad Wrap!

Check out this yummy and quick recipe, featured as part of this year's Food Revolution Day! 

That's it for now everyone! Thank you!!

- Karen, Migdalia, Monifa, Donna, Dream and the rest of the MomsRising.org Food Team!

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