Last week was National School Lunch Week (Oct. 10-14), proclaimed by President Kennedy in 1963 to raise public awareness of child nutrition. More than 28 million children in 100,000 schools and childcare facilities participate in U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National School Lunch Program.

Unfortunately, the lunch fare is made up largely of USDA’s surplus meat, milk and cheese commodities, which contain excess protein, saturated fats and cholesterol, and account for the epidemic of obesity, diabetes and heart disease afflicting our children. Moreover, most nutrition education materials are provided to schools by the meat, dairy and junk food industries.

According to USDA’s own surveys, 90 percent of our children consume excessive amounts of fat, and only 15 percent eat the minimum daily recommended servings of fruits and vegetables. These early dietary flaws become lifelong addictions, contributing to an escalating public health crisis.

Not surprisingly, 5.3 million American children are overweight, 25 percent have high cholesterol and blood pressure, and 30,000 suffer from Type 2 diabetes, once limited to adults.

But change is on the way. Hawaii, California and New York legislatures passed resolutions asking schools to offer a daily vegan or vegetarian option to every child. National health advocacy organizations and local parents groups have mobilized to improve school food quality.

Parents and others who care about this critical issue should work with their PTAs in demanding healthy school meals, snacks and vending machine items.

Lawrence Rangel, Lewiston