Mission: Readiness issued a new report on improving the quality of food sold in schools in a press conference at the National Press Club on Tuesday.
The report focuses on the need to remove junk foods sold in schools, noting that many children get as much as half their daily calories at school.
It urges the federal government to update the standards for foods sold in school vending machines, à la carte lines and snack bars.
It also supports the steps that schools are already taking to improve cafeteria meals and reinforces recent Institute of Medicine recommendations that call for making schools a focal point for addressing the obesity crisis.
Speakers included: Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Richard B. Myers and Former Commandant of US Coast Guard and Former Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Admiral James M. Loy.
Mission: Readiness is a nonpartisan national security organization of senior retired military leaders.