Child nutrition reauthorization related events are sprouting up around Washington, DC.  On Tuesday, May 5th, the Chicago-based Healthy Schools Campaign will hold an event discussing many of the issues facing school nutrition programs.  The first part of the program will feature a cooking demonstration with Obama family personal chef Sam Kass and high school culinary students. Guests will be treated to the students’ award-winning Cinco de Mayo-themed menu of carrot quesadillas, stuffed peppers, and refascante salad. Four school nutrition directors will also be there to discuss the state of school nutrition in their cities.  The directors are:

• Louise Esaian, Chicago Public Schools, Ill.
• Jennifer LeBarre, Oakland Unified School District, Calif.
• Leo Lesh, SNS, Denver Public Schools, Colo.
• Eric Goldstein, New York City Public Schools, N.Y.

SNA President-elect Dora Rivas, RD, SNS will also be on hand. Rivas is in Washington, DC this week to meet with lawmakers on Child Nutrition Reauthorization.

Also this week, the California Endowment will be hosting a briefing on school nutrition policy.  The speakers will focus on competitive food standards, using examples from California and Arkansas. Speakers at this May 5th briefing will be:

• Marion Standish, M.A., J.D., Director, Healthy Environments, The California Endowment
• Sarah Samuels, DrPH., President, Samuels & Associates
• Joseph Thompson, MD, MPH, Arkansas Surgeon General, and Director, RWJF Center to Prevent Childhood Obesity
• Elizabeth Walker, Project Director, National Association of State Boards of Education
• Ginny Ehrlich, Executive Director, Alliance for a Healthier Generation

Keep reading From the Kitchen to the Congress for more updates about Reauthorization 2009 events.