What do you think is the most effective way to turn this idea into real policy? Add your suggestions here for how you think we should run an advocacy campaign to advance the idea – including the overall strategy, messaging, targets, and tactics.

Approach this from the standpoint that people reading this forum already agree with you on the importance of the issue, and are asking "What can we do to help make this a reality?"

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1. 

   One part of the solution could be to provide universal free breakfast and lunch meals to all students of schools that participate in the USDA National School Lunch Program and the National School Breakfast program.  Most of the infrastructure to provide the meals is already in place. 
   
   There may be some additional equipment needs to be funded and there will certainly need to be adequate federal (USDA) reimbursement to the participating schools for the meals served.  In addition, the reimbursement rates must be tied to some inflationary measure so that food costs do not outpace the increases in the reimbursement rates.
   
   Of course, this is only part of the solution.  Universal free meals served at schools only account for 2 meals a day for approximately 180 days per year.  But it is a start.  And if USDA nutritional guidelines are followed in the preparation of those meals, it is a healthy start as well.

   Suggested by Don Buck on 03/18/2009 @ 11:56AM PT

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