Greetings! We hope you've been having a healthy, happy and fun summer! The Good Food Force updates have slowed a bit over the summer, as we've enjoyed vacation and family time (we hope you've done the same!). But we're kicking things back into high gear as we approach the new school year. In this edition, please find a round-up of resources and stories around National Breastfeeding Month (August!), info on the new Wellness Policy Rule, a snapshot of what's been going on in North Carolina, and easy tips for making popsicles, pesto and more! As always, please read and share with friends! 

1. TOP STORIES

Celebrate National Breastfeeding Month!

All month long we're featuring stories about the joys and challenges of breastfeeding, told by parents and members like you! Please check out the stories below (there are more on the blog, too) and share your own. 

Also be sure to join us as we talk about breastfeeding on our Wellness Wednesday tweet chats at 2PM ET every week. Use hashtag #WellnessWed to follow the convo. Upcoming topics:

• 8/17: Breastfeeding and Healthcare
• 8/24: A Look Back at the Surgeon General's Call to Action
• 8/31: Black Breastfeeding Week Celebrating #BlackBFJoy

Breastfeeding Stories: Meet Christina. I unexpectedly became pregnant with my second child shortly after starting a new job in 2002. When it came time to let my boss in on the news of the pregnancy, I explained to her that while I hadn't intended to become pregnant at that time, my husband and I were happy and I wished to continue my employment with the company. She then informed me that I would not be covered by FMLA and if I wished to continue working there I would only be permitted to use any vacation and sick time I had accrued up until that point. Read more on the blog. 

10 Easy Ways to Set yourself up for Breastfeeding Success in Life and Work! by Donna Hoffman Cullinan. Aside from the initial “figuring out how to survive life with a newborn” phase, one of the most stressful experiences for me was trying to figure out how I was going to successfully continue breastfeeding after I returned to work, and how I would fit in pumping as part of my daily routine. Read more on the blog. 

Breastfeeding Stories: An Office With a Window. When Christina’s son was born in the summer of 2013, she was working full-time at a national pizza delivery company. Like most service industry employers, her company did not offer health insurance, sick pay, or maternity leave. Christina was determined to work as long as possible into the late stages of her pregnancy so that she could save every penny and take two months off without pay when the baby came. Read more on the blog. 

When Depression and Breastfeeding Come Together, by Esperanza Dodge. As we celebrate World Breastfeeding Week and the beautiful things our bodies can do for our babies, we should also take time to remember the emotional hardships some moms face: The unspoken reality that many moms are dealing with postpartum depression while breastfeeding... Read more on the blog. 

USDA Releases Updated Wellness Policy Rule

Great news for healthy kids! Wellness policies are “a written document that guides a local educational agency’s (LEA) or school district’s efforts to establish a school environment that promotes students’ health, well-being, and ability to learn.”. (USDA website) In short: they cover food and drinks available during the school day, marketing in schools, school celebrations and more. They also provide a great opening for parent involvement. We'll share additional resources in the coming weeks, and find out more on the blog.

2. TIPS AND RESOURCES 

3. CONNECT

Join us for #FoodFri tweet chats this summer and fall as we talk about kicking off the healthy school year! Find us on Twitter using #FoodFri and @MomsRising at 1pm ET. Upcoming topics include:

• August 19: Back to School with guest @BoksKids
• August 26: More Back to School as guests @CSPI, @Voices4HK, and @HealthierGen talk about new wellness policies, school snacks and PE

Join us on the Good Food Force Facebook group to chat about the latest news, resources, recipes and more. This week we're talking about tips for packing an affordable, healthy lunch for kids. 

4. SPOTLIGHT

MomsRising in North Carolina hosted two events this legislative session at the NC General Assembly to highlight the need for better access to healthy foods. Their voices were heard and lawmakers included $250,000 for the creation of the Healthy Corner Store Initiative to help get fresh produce into food deserts across the state. Go team!

5. FUN/FOOD/GARDEN

- Karen and the rest of the MomsRising 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