Schrier, Bonamici Introduce Bill to Protect Lunch and Recess Time for Kids

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Today, Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08), introduced her Healthy Meal Time Act to ensure schools schedule enough time for children to eat a balanced, nutritious meal each day. Congresswoman Schrier is joined in introducing this legislation by Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01).

"Kids need to have enough time to eat and play at school," said Congresswoman Schrier, M.D. "As a pediatrician and a mom, I know that students will often skip lunch and rush to recess without eating enough. I am proud to introduce this bill to make sure our kids have the time they need to eat a nutritious meal at school. Creating schedules that ensure kids have enough time to eat and exercise will help them focus in school and stay healthy."

The Healthy Meal Time Act would direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture, with input from the U.S. Department of Education, to create a study to share successful efforts and current best practices with schools surrounding meal and recess timing. Currently, no federal guidelines surrounding adequate school lunch times exist.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that students have a minimum of 20 minutes of seated eating time at lunch. This legislation would require best practices to take into account this CDC recommendation, the time it takes for non-eating activities, and the time it takes to eat minimally processed and unprocessed foods.

"School meal times let students refuel and refresh their growing brains, and learning is limited when kids don't have enough food or time to eat. The Healthy Meal Time Act would establish best practices for lunch timing and length, giving schools key guidance and resources to make the best decisions for their students," said Congresswoman Bonamici.

"Providing nutritious school meals is essential, but children also need adequate time to eat and benefit from them," said Tamara Randall, MS, RDN, LD, CDCES, FAND, president of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. "The Academy supports the Healthy Meal Time Act because it would help schools establish evidence-based practices for lunch and recess schedules, ensuring students have the time they need to eat nutritious meals and support their health and well-being. We applaud Representatives Schrier and Bonamici for their leadership on this important issue."

The Healthy Meal Time Act has been endorsed by the National Education Association, the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and the School Nutrition Association.