The government should try and assure healthy meals through school-lunch programs and not subsidizing agribusinesses.

With a law that would increase child-nutrition programs in the next 10 years by $8 billion and require stricter nutrition standards for school meals as well as food sold in vending machines and so called a la carte lines, Rep. George Miller, D-Martinez, is on the right track.

To reduce federal crop subsidies is one possible way to pay for an increase of the magnitude proposed by Miller would but this step is not favoured by the Senate.

As of now just $2.68 for each school lunch provided is being reimbursed by the federal government to a qualifying low-income student.

To advance First Lady Michelle Obama's campaign to reduce childhood obesity, Miller's proposal is apt.

Now Congress must make every attempt to overhaul the school nutrition programs as they expire on September 30 and should just not allow the present unhealthy eating habits and larded subsidies to continue.