We require our children to attend school and provide them with transportation, textbooks, computers and other supplies. We must not only nourish their bodies but also educate them, along with their parents and the community, about the benefits of following a healthy lifestyle.

This was the message I came away with after joining hundreds of school nutrition directors from every state Feb. 27-March 3 in Washington, D.C.

The conference, during which the School Nutrition Association sought support for the $1 billion proposed by President Obama for 2010 child nutrition reauthorization, featured a speech by first lady Michelle Obama encouraging young people to eat more fruits and vegetables, and to become more active to decrease childhood obesity.

Along with U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, and Roberta Jacobs of Norwich School Food Services, I attended a hearing on good nutrition and improving the health of our children. The 10 Connecticut school food service directors in attendance shared their concerns with all Connecticut senators and congressmen.

Tom Vilsack, secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, reminded us that school lunch started to improve the health of our youth after findings of malnourishment in World War II soldiers.

We have come full circle, with many of the applicants of our volunteer military rejected today, most due to obesity. Health insurance costs are rising, the next generation must be encouraged to eat healthy and to stay fit.

The USDA funds school meals, plus "farm to school" and fresh produce programs for schools.

The School Nutrition Association supports legislation to eliminate childhood hunger and continue serving our children healthy meals.

Congress must increase funding for child nutrition to achieve the following:

• Expand the "free" meal category from 130 percent of poverty to 185 percent, consistent with the WIC income eligibility guidelines.

• Increase the per meal reimbursement for all meals to keep pace with rising costs and implementation of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The current federal reimbursement of $2.68 for a "free" school lunch is 35 cents less than the average cost of production.

• Require the secretary of agriculture to establish a consistent national application of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, for all reimbursable meals, in accordance with recommendations of the Institute of Medicine (IOM).

• Grant the secretary the statutory authority to regulate the sale of all foods and beverages on the school campus.

• Address childhood obesity by establishing an effective nutrition education curriculum and increasing the consumption of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

• Utilize technology to simplify program administration and enhance financial accountability.

• Establish a seamless application and reimbursement process for all school, preschool and child care food programs.

• Require the secretary to establish expedited food safety coordination and recall communication system.

• Allow for community eligibility in high poverty areas.

• Provide 10 cents in USDA commodities for each school breakfast.

• Re-establish entitlement funding for equipment assistance in all schools.

Please visit your school meal program. We serve education every day and require your support.

The writer is Montville schools' nutrition program director.