Get Vegetarian Food in Schools Across the Country October 7, 2008
Posted by Marta | Permalink | Comments ( 24 ) | TrackBack
TAGGED:
food cafeteria school lunch USDA Child Nutrition Act
Do you like to eat? Do you wish your school had more vegetarian food? Or just better food in general? Read on—this is really important.
In the new year, the USDA will be reviewing the Child Nutrition Act, which, amongst other things, covers the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. The USDA is accepting comments on how to revise the program until October 15th—um, more vegetarian food, most definitely—so please write today!
To send a message, either use this form, or send an an e-mail to CNDProposal@fns.usda.gov.
Here's a few things to remember when writing your e-mail:
- Be polite. Being mean about the lack of vegetarian options your school has won't help. Besides, you're too nice to be mean.
- Explain that you care about your health, the environment, and animals, and vegetarian food supports all of those things. Not to mention that everyone deserves to be accomodated regarding their ethical, religious, and dietary preferences.
- List some options of what you'd like to see added. Bean and rice burritos, soy hot dogs, veggie burgers, and veggie chicken nuggets are all a good start. Go here for more ideas.
- Mention your school specifically and how much you and your classmates would love vegetarian options!
- Ask for soymilk as an alternative to dairy milk. It's great for vegans, those who are lactose-intolerant, and soy enthusiasts!
- Be sure to say thanks for taking your thoughts into consideration.
It is so, so important for every single one of you to write to the USDA and ask them to include vegetarian and vegan meals in the National School Lunch Program. And please, have your parents write in, too. The more people that write in, the better. Change happens when people speak up (or in this case, write in)—the Child Nutrition Act is only reviewed every four years, so let's do something now!
Want more ways to get vegan options in your school's cafeteria? Check this out! What vegan options are you going to ask for in your e-mail?
♥ Marta
Comments
I hope really good vegan options will be available. Less kids will be obese!
Posted by: Dawn at October 7, 2008 3:06 PMthis is a great idea. i was thinking about it the other day when at lunch I'd realized that everything had meat in it. all i ate was lettuce in a box. :[ it wasn't filling at all. I hope this works!
Posted by: diep at October 7, 2008 3:43 PMOh fudge yeah for bean and rice burittos.
@Dawn
I'm pretty sure kids can still get fat by eating a ton of food regardless if its vegan or not.
I'm so writing! Great idea.
Posted by: Ashley at October 7, 2008 4:01 PMhopefully the UK will do something like this soon, i'll definitely write! our school claims to offer 'options for vegetarians and vegans' but on 3 out of 5 days the only vegan option is fresh fruit, everything else contains milk, eggs or cheese! ):
Posted by: Lottiee at October 7, 2008 4:12 PMI just did it.
Hopefully they'll do it!
AND I Mentioned Obesity in mine, Dawn!
Posted by: Stephen A at October 7, 2008 7:36 PMI just sent in my comment.
I really hope my school gets vegetarian/vegan options for lunch.
The salads aren't exactly filling and delicious.
More vegetarian and vegan options in the school are a really good idea.
There is never anything at my school, and I normally resort to a salad.
And Dawn, do you honestlly believe the food served in school has everything to do with obesity?
To be honest, I'm sure your comment wasn't meant to be rude, but I took offense to it.
I'm not at all small, and reading that was just a big downer.
Do you really think school vending machines have nothing to do with it?
Or the fact that most people only have one, of the three daily meals, at school?
School isn't the only cause of obesity.
I am hoping so much that they will start offering better options! just today i had to get in two lines because the first one ran out of what i wanted! and then my friend asked me why i hadn't gotten any, and i replied they only had meat pizza. and now she knows that pepperoni is meat! haha.
Posted by: Lauren at October 8, 2008 12:24 AMbest of luck, hopefully Australia will follow your example!!
xx
YES!!! IT WOULD ROCK FOR VEGETARIAN/VEGAN OPTIONS TO BE HERE. unfortntly my school every one hunts so its gonna be hard.
Posted by: Justin Anderson at October 8, 2008 12:14 PMi just sent a comment even though i'm home schooled haha
Posted by: sara at October 8, 2008 12:31 PMomg, thank you for existing! i love peta! :) If I live in Europe, can I still be a member?
Posted by: Elli at October 8, 2008 1:55 PMI've tried getting my school to do Vegan food, so far not working. I'm writing a letter to the school board >
Posted by: Kumori at October 8, 2008 2:13 PMSo this is great and all, but I don't think that changing the food in schools will make the obesity levels go down. Why aren't we focusing on what schools are TEACHING children about nutrition? The schools teach kids that meat and dairy are GOOD for them...that they should eat a certain amount of these things every day. I for one, think it's wrong. As a child, I thought meat and dairy were good for me until I decided to start educating myself. The thought that the youth of our country are still being told that they should be eating animals products is sickening. ...It's certainly not helping the obesity rates, and it's one of many things that's aiding premature development in kids...my own eight year old little sister has a mini figure...it's not right!!!
Posted by: Stee at October 8, 2008 4:22 PMmy shool only serves vegetarian food. =D
Posted by: at October 8, 2008 5:53 PMi think we should the same chance for a good meal as much as the non vegans/vegeterians. vegie burgers are favorite. I was really happy when i saw them on the menue at burger king. im def. goin to write
Posted by: lucas at October 8, 2008 6:13 PMi have been thinking about doing something like this but i didnt know how so now we get to have a word in to chage it
YAY!!!
:D
Given the 'theme' of this trail I thought you and your readers may be interested in a new blog we have built (sponsored by McCain Foods) that focuses on school food. The site also features a questionnaire that can be completed by parents.
Obesity is endemic in the USA and yet, often, school food is part of the problem. The blog is
only going to be up for a short while and it would be great if your readers could have a look and add some comments.
The site is managed by me, Jeff Peel, and I'm an independent market researcher.
Please have a look. We're very keen to hear your comments. I'll read every one personally.
I'm sure you will agree that the foods that your children are fed in school will have an impact on their well-being. We're really keen to hear your views.
Jeff Peel
Quadriga Consulting Ltd
for http://mccainfoodsbetterforyou.com/
I just tried to post and got juked
an I had typed a super long entry
I'm a little upset
i think having vegatarian option would be good,so we could you know actually eat at school.
Posted by: yazmin at October 10, 2008 10:59 PMOmg, I have been thinking about this for months and I think right now is the time. Since the kids at school don't believe I'm a true vegetarian, I'll ask my principal and vice principal on the food options. Oh yeah diep, GO RICE AND BEAN BURRITOS! (click my name to see my school). Oh, and yeah, EVERYONE HUNTS! Ew. :'(
Posted by: Matt at October 11, 2008 9:22 AMMy school pretty much has no vegetarian option. The salads have ham in them. It's kinda nasty, and that's why I bring my own lunch.
We DO have vegetable pizza, but that's not vegan.
Posted by: luna at October 15, 2008 7:02 PMPost a comment
Heads up: By signing up here and giving us your details, we're taking that as acknowledgment that you've read and agreed to our privacy policy.
Good luck! If you can get good veg*n options in schools in America then hopefully the rest of the world will follow!
Posted by: Little_Lotte at October 7, 2008 12:50 PM