Ben and Jerry are giving America some food for thought, literally. Their limited edition ice cream, a brown sugar flavored ice cream with apples and pie crust pieces called American Pie, is packaged in a pint with a pie chart that represents the federal discretionary budget on the lid. Sitting on the couch with a spoon in hand, it is impossible not to notice the big red slice of the pie goes to nuclear weapons programs, and compare it to the sliver dedicated to children's health care costs.

Among industrialized countries, America stands first in nuclear defense capabilities and first in nuclear defense expenditures, according to Ben & Jerry's research team, which comprises the Children's Defense Fund, the Center for Defense Information, the Natural Resources Defense Council and the National Priorities Project. Each year we spend $30 billion on nuclear defense; our arsenal includes almost 10,000 nuclear warheads. Yet, America ranks 18th in the percentage of children in poverty, and dead last in providing health insurance for children.

Ben and Jerry's not-so-subliminal message? We should spend our money on kids, not war. With $1 billion a year, every two-year-old American could be vaccinated against childhood diseases. Given $2 billion, 1 of the 9 million uninsured American children could have health insurance. Another $5 billion could enroll every child in a Head Start program. "We can do much better for America's children," says Walt Freese, Ben & Jerry's CEO. "Many military experts agree that up to $13 billion can be cut from nuclear arms spending without compromising national security. These funds should be redirected toward programs such as universal child health care, immunization programs, and Head Start—at no additional taxpayer expense."

Owned by Unilever since 2000, Ben & Jerry's has recently re-embraced the left-leaning mission of its founding fathers, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, who have returned to work for their namesake. The American Pie mandate marks the latest step in the ice cream company's retreat to its social activism roots, following the introduction of Fair Trade ice creams, the efforts to promote small family farms and to address global warming. "As long as the company is going to do meaningful actions that have a strong social benefit, I'm happy to support it and help," Cohen told the Associated Press.

Their latest undertaking sends the message straight to the source, urging consumers and Congress to bring health care to America's children. The campaign's complementary web site is chock full of challenging questions, frightening facts, and calls to action. In addition, Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shops are providing customers with postcards addressed to Congress, asking for a greater investment in America's kids.Can a trip to the freezer section of your local grocer for a pint inspire a budget that balances children's welfare and national defense? We're all screaming for it on this end.