Ask the USDA for Vegetarian Options in Schools

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For those of you open to the benefits to health, the environment, animal

welfare and to human spiritual development from lower consumption of meat and

dairy, please consider taking a minute to make yourself heard to our

government. 

 

 

 

Thank you so very much.

 

 

 

Bill

 

 

 

 

 

 

go to

 

http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=SubmitComment & o=090000\

64805f47dd

 

 

 

 

 

 

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My comment is included below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

PCRM President Neal Barnard <kstrong

 

wmilmoe

 

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 7:00 am

 

Ask the USDA for Vegetarian Options in Schools

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Kathryn Strong

 

PCRM Nutrition Coordinator

 

kstrong

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Dear Mr. Milmoe,

 

 

 

 

Do you know that many vegetarian children cannot get lunch at school? At a time

when American children need more vegetarian meals, the National School Lunch

Program does not include any provision for plant-based foods. In order to change

that, the U.S. Department of Agriculture needs to hear from you toda

y.

 

 

 

 

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. Let

me offer below a few comments you may wish to consider.

 

 

 

 

PCRM asks the USDA to Improve Vegetarian Options in Schools

 

Many children do not consume animal products due to ethical, cultural, and

religious practices, as well as food allergies and intolerances. An increasing

number of students cannot take full advantage of federal nutrition programs,

including the National School Lunch Program, because plant-based options are not

always available. PCRM is asking the USDA to include these items when the Child

Nutrition Act is reauthorized next year:

 

 

 

 

 

Nondairy beverage alternatives should be available and reimbursable without a

note wherever cow’s milk is provided. Offering all students a nutritious

nondairy beverage will reduce saturated fat consumption and increase overall

program participation. The USDA should appropriately increase reimbursement for

nondairy alternatives so that providing these options will not be more costly to

schools.

 

 

 

Plant-based meal options should be available every day, as trailblazing states

such as California, Florida, Hawaii, and New York have already required. Whether

a student consumes a vegetari

an diet or chooses an occasional vegetarian meal, experts agree that plant-based

foods are healthy choices for all children.

 

 

 

Plant-based commodity foods should be readily available to schools. The USDA

should provide schools with more fresh fruits and vegetables and plant-based

entrées to help meet the demand for these healthful foods. The USDA and

Congress should shift federal subsidies so that they support child health rather

than agricultural interests.

 

 

 

 

PCRM joins the American Medical Association and the American Public Health

Association in asking the USDA to provide healthful vegetarian foods including

vegetables, fruits, legumes, grains, and nutritious nondairy beverages in

schools. Increasing access to low-fat, cholesterol-free vegetarian foods will

help mitigate the rising prevalence of obesity and other chronic diseases.

 

 

 

 

Thank you for taking action on this important issue. If you have any questions,

please contact Kathryn Strong, PCRM nutrition coordinator, at kstrong.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Best regards,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Neal Barnard, M.D.

 

PCRM President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine

 

5100 Wisconsin Ave., N.W., Ste. 400

 

Washington, DC 20016

 

 

Phone: 202-686-2210

 

E-mail: info

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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My comment:

 

 

 

=0

A

 

 

 

 

 

Please allow and encourage appropriate

choices. Not everyone can be healthy on

 

 

a meat or dairy based diet so options

are excellent. Please support and

 

 

encourage more vegetarian and vegan

options through the school lunch programs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heart disease, cancer and diabetes are

believed by more and more people to be

 

 

lifestyle or life choice

consequences....they are a very big and messy

 

 

business. So addressing the causes is

a just and appropriate action to take.

 

 

Think Dr. Colin Campbell, Dr. Dean

Ornish, Dr. John McDougall, Dr. Gabriel Cousens, Dr. Neal Barnard

etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Donate NowJoin PCRM or Renew Your Membership

 

 

 

 

Kathryn StrongPCRM Nutrition Coordinatorkstrong

 

 

 

 

 

 

Submit comments to the USDA Subscribe to future PCRM e-mail communications

 

 

 

Dear Ms. Kring,

Do you know that many vegetarian children cannot get lunch at school? At a time when American children need more vegetarian meals, the National School Lunch Program does not include any provision for plant-based foods. In order to change that, the U.S. Department of Agriculture needs to hear from you today.

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. Let me offer below a few comments you may wish to consider.

PCRM asks the USDA to Improve Vegetarian Options in SchoolsMany children do not consume animal products due to ethical, cultural, and religious practices, as well as food allergies and intolerances. An increasing number of students cannot take full advantage of federal nutrition programs, including the National School Lunch Program, because plant-based options are not always available. PCRM is asking the USDA to include these items when the Child Nutrition Act is reauthorized next year:

 

Nondairy beverage alternatives should be available and reimbursable without a note wherever cow’s milk is provided. Offering all students a nutritious nondairy beverage will reduce saturated fat consumption and increase overall program participation. The USDA should appropriately increase reimbursement for nondairy alternatives so that providing these options will not be more costly to schools.

Plant-based meal options should be available every day, as trailblazing states such as California, Florida, Hawaii, and New York have already required. Whether a student consumes a vegetarian diet or chooses an occasional vegetarian meal, experts agree that plant-based foods are healthy choices for all children.

Plant-based commodity foods should be readily available to schools. The USDA should provide schools with more fresh fruits and vegetables and plant-based entrées to help meet the demand for these healthful foods. The USDA and Congress should shift federal subsidies so that they support child health rather than agricultural interests.

PCRM joins the American Medical Association and the American Public Health Association in asking the USDA to provide healthful vegetarian foods including vegetables, fruits, legumes, grains, and nutritious nondairy beverages in schools. Increasing access to low-fat, cholesterol-free vegetarian foods will help mitigate the rising prevalence of obesity and other chronic diseases.

Thank you for taking action on this important issue. If you have any questions, please contact Kathryn Strong, PCRM nutrition coordinator, at kstrong.

 

Best regards,

Neal Barnard, M.D.PCRM President

 

 

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine5100 Wisconsin Ave., N.W., Ste. 400 Washington, DC 20016

Phone: 202-686-2210E-mail: info

 

 

 

 

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