The USDA wants to know!
The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine recently sent out an alert asking concerned citizens to contact the USDA with our input on how the National School Lunch Program needs to change:
The Child Nutrition Act includes legislation for the National School Lunch Program, which provides federal assistance for school lunches. This act is being reauthorized in 2009, and the USDA would like your input on what needs to change. Submit your recommendations for improving vegetarian options by fax at 703-305-2879, or online. They are accepting comments until October 15, 2008.PCRM has put together a list of recommendations that would make school lunches more veg-friendly and healthier for everyone, including offering nondairy milk alternatives, plant-based meal options, and more fresh fruits and vegetables.
8 comments:
This is such great news! My mom is a preschool teacher and we constantly talk about how unhealthy the meals are that are fed to her pre-schoolers (last week one lunch was corn dogs, tater tots, potato chips, and a frozen fruit pop). I'm forwarding this to her and all our friends in education. Thanks for posting this!
I'm closer to having been at a school cafeteria than to having kids in one, but I recently saw a talk at Ted.com (you would like it) about a Berkley school cook going INSANE about the state of food in schools. It's worth watching:
http://blog.ted.com/2008/09/reinventing_the.php
Awesome!
Thanks for the heads-up, Jennifer! I forwarded this to my PTG (PTA) leaders and posted a link on my Facebook page!
Our Memphis public schools scored an F on the last PCRM report for veg-friendly and healthy lunches. :-(
This is great news!
The New York Times had a story about a specific school changing their menu a couple years ago that was a fun and encouraging read.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/20/magazine/20lunches.html
I'll definitely pass this information along to my sister who has a veg-loving kid who just started school. Thanks for the tip!
That is great news!
My boyfriend is a 6th grade teacher and we are both appalled at what is for 'lunch' these days, served both by the schools and brought from home. Kids are bringing large bags of Dorritos and a 2-liter of soda calling it lunch, while the PTA provides once-weekly fast food! He had to take class time to count how many children wanted double cheeseburgers from McDonalds and how many wanted double handburgers. Not only are the 440 cals each (210 from fat) who knows what they are made of.
We live the Bay Area near Berkeley, CA; you would think a place with a reputation for being dirt-worshipping, tree-hugging hippies would have proper dietary needs met in public schools. :/
For information on the Child Nutrition Act Reauthoriziation we have created a website. You can send a letter to the USDA here:
http://www.healthyschoolscampaign.org/childnutrition
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