Illinois gets $350,000 nutrition grant

SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois will get a $350,000 federal grant to fight childhood obesity and pitch an active lifestyle to schoolchildren.

The State Board of Education will administer the money over two years, focusing on three areas.

It will provide training and money to food service staff members to increase the amount of whole grain products offered in school breakfast programs.

It will offer 20 elementary schools a chance at $3,500 grants to compete in a national school health program that targets obesity.

And it will provide $2,000 grants to improve wellness and snacks for after-school programs.

Illinois is one of 18 states to receive the U.S. Department of Agriculture grants.