Do you remember back in primary school when your teacher explained the food pyramid for the first time? Why was all of the good food in the "eat sparingly' category???

Nutrition is about more than just the food pyramid, it is about ensuring that all kids around the world have the vitamins and minerals that they need to be protected from disease and to grow up healthy. UNICEF explains that nearly half of all deaths in children under 5 are attributable to undernutrition. This means that around 3 million kids die every year just because they don't have access to the foods that their bodies need. 

Leading a healthy life requires having access to enough food and, sometimes more importantly, having access to proper nutrients. Imagine if all you had to eat was rice. You wouldn't have to go to bed hungry, but you wouldn't be getting enough protein or vitamins. 

In 2012, Prime Minister Cameron, together with Brazil's Vice President Michel Temer, urged the world to take important action beore the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio to transform the life changes of millions of kids by improving their nutrition. Countries, foundations, and companies have already stepped forward with over $4 billion in new committments to help make nutrition an #OlympicWin.

On May 19, I attended a briefing hosted by 1,000 Days about the importance of United States leadership on ending malnutrtion. Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) explained that, "this is a bipartisan issue, as it should be." 

The United States government has long been a leader on this issue. By supporting the Global Food Security Act, the US government can demonstrate continued leadership in improving nutrtiion worldwide. As Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (R-CT) explained, "The stories of childhood hunger are heartbreaking, but they are also preventable." 

Need a quick recap on the bill? The Global Food Security Act will: 

• Develop a comprehensive food security strategy that reduces global poverty, hunger, and malnutrition, particularly among women and children

• Coordinate efforts across federal departments and agencies to ensure that the right people are talking to each other

• Support countries as they create national plans for food security

• Focus on nutritional outcomes for women and children, particularly in the first 1,000 day window of opportunity between a woman's pregnancy and her child's second birthday

• Put in place strong reporting, oversight and accountability measures

• Invest just over $1 billion for fiscal year 2016 to carry out the strategy

Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) who leads the House Foreign Affairs Committee highlighed the Global Food Security Act as an important piece of legislation that will improve nutrition globally. He explained that the committee is, "as determined as we were last session to bring these bills out and get them passed." 

Do you agree that all children should have proper nutrtients? SIgn the petition in TAKE ACTION NOW and make sure the lives of kids are changed before the next olympics!