Boost school lunch program

San Jose Mercury News: Americans are such fatheads when it comes to managing their children’s diets.

One in every three children in the United States is overweight, according to the Centers for Disease Control. If current trends continue, by 2018 the nation will spend an estimated $344 billion on treating obesity — just over 20 percent of our health-care spending.

The best way to improve kids’ health is for parents to take more responsibility for children’s nutrition and exercise. But Congress can do its part in the next few months by expanding its national school lunch program, which currently offers lunch to about 30 million children every school day.

Healthier children

All Americans have an interest in healthier children. According to a study published in July by Health Affairs magazine, people who were obese spent $1,429 more on medical costs than their healthier counterparts. Controlling chronic diseases such as diabetes can play a major role in slowing the rate of growth in this country’s skyrocketing medical costs.

The quality of the food and the number of children eligible for subsidized meals can grow with even a small increase to the current $85 million federal program. It would be a smart investment.

The Obama administration is also encouraging Congress to look for ways to expand the school breakfast program, which currently jump-starts 11 million children’s ability to learn by making sure they don’t have empty stomachs when they enter the classroom.

Imagine what awaits today’s children if they don’t even get off to a good start.