HOUSE MEMORIAL 50

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2014

INTRODUCED BY

Jimmie C. Hall

A MEMORIAL

DECLARING FEBRUARY 3, 2014 "SCHOOL NUTRITION DAY" IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

     WHEREAS, school nutrition programs provided through the national school lunch program and school breakfast program have provided millions of healthy and nutritious meals to schoolchildren throughout New Mexico for more than sixty years; and

     WHEREAS, school nutrition programs serve healthy meals, free or at low cost, to students in New Mexico schools; and

     WHEREAS, school nutrition programs not only feed hungry children and support family well-being, they also act as "economic stabilizers" during economic downturns; and

     WHEREAS, many children consume at least one-half of their daily calories at school, and for many children, food served at school may be the only nutritious food they regularly eat; and

     WHEREAS, school nutrition programs play an important role in helping to ensure that every student in New Mexico starts school ready to learn, since studies show that a well-fed and well-nourished child is a more eager and attentive student; and

     WHEREAS, school nutrition programs have demonstrated a commitment in New Mexico to promote children's health, well-being and educational excellence as primary goals for student success; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico has ranked first nationally in students participating in school breakfast programs in five of the last six years and has been among the top ten states in numbers of students participating in school breakfast programs in the last ten years; and

     WHEREAS, over three hundred forty-five thousand one hundred one students across New Mexico are eligible to participate in school meal programs; and

     WHEREAS, more than fifty farmers currently sell fruits and vegetables grown in New Mexico to sixty school districts, serving one hundred forty-six thousand eight hundred forty-eight schoolchildren, a measure that contributes to a healthy diet and mitigates childhood obesity; and

     WHEREAS, thirty-two percent of New Mexican children are overweight or obese, and experts project that a healthier population could save the state more than three hundred twenty-four million dollars ($324,000,000) annually in obesity-related health care expenses and an additional one billion two hundred million dollars ($1,200,000,000) annually in diabetes-related health care expenses;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the state recognize that funding for school nutrition programs to promote healthier lifestyles and academic achievement is a wise investment in the health of its people and its future work force; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Monday, February 3, 2014, be declared "School Nutrition Day" in the house of representatives.

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