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Healthy School Lunches |
Photo: © NYCHSL - Jay Mankita and a student in NYC who was very happy to hear
Jay's songs about healthy plant-based foods because she is a vegetarian.
Jay's songs about healthy plant-based foods because she is a vegetarian.
by Amie Hamlin
“I'm glad my mom is working on this because I would love to eat hot lunch with my friends every day and for them to eat healthier food too!” Andrew Ciacci, Age 7.
The New York Coalition for Healthy School Lunches (NYCHSL) is a statewide coalition working to improve foods in schools. Their first success was to write and get passed unanimously a resolution for healthy school foods in the New York State legislature. It asks for a plant-based (vegan) entrée each day as a healthy option, healthy a la carte and vending choices, farm to school programs, including organic where possible, and nutrition education that includes information on healthy multi-cultural, vegetarian and vegan eating patterns.
U.S. food consumption by calories includes 51% from refined and processed foods, 42% from animal foods, 2% from white potato products, which includes French fries and potato chips, and only 5% from the foods proven to support health and prevent chronic diseases: vegetables (especially greens), fruits, legumes (beans and lentils) and unprocessed nuts and seeds (no added oil, sugar or salt).
NYCHSL works closely with the New York State Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and has been involved in writing resolutions for healthy school foods. They hired Jay Mankita to write songs about healthy foods which they piloted in New York City schools, and just recorded a CD of those songs. They have gained celebrity support from artist Peter Max, Jayni and Chevy Chase, Billy Baldwin, Hallie Kate Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Nellie McKay, and Chynna Phillips. NYCHSL has presented at school nurse, food service, and PTA conferences, done a teachers conference in New York City with United Federation of Teachers, and presented to many local PTA’s, in addition to helping students make changes in their schools.
Brenda Davis, RD,co-author of Becoming Vegetarian, Becoming Vegan, Defeating Diabetes, and Dairy-Free and Delicious sums it up: “Asking schools to offer a completely plant-based, vegan entrée each day as a healthy option in the cafeteria is a very wise and rational first step…This is something that all mainstream organizations now agree with, including the United States Department of Agriculture guidelines, which state “Get most of your calories from plant foods (grains, fruits, vegetables)”.
Contact: Amie Hamlin, Executive Director
New York Coalition for Healthy School Lunches
Tel: 631-286-8720
E-mail: amie@optonline.net
Web: www.healthylunches.org
“I'm glad my mom is working on this because I would love to eat hot lunch with my friends every day and for them to eat healthier food too!” Andrew Ciacci, Age 7.
The New York Coalition for Healthy School Lunches (NYCHSL) is a statewide coalition working to improve foods in schools. Their first success was to write and get passed unanimously a resolution for healthy school foods in the New York State legislature. It asks for a plant-based (vegan) entrée each day as a healthy option, healthy a la carte and vending choices, farm to school programs, including organic where possible, and nutrition education that includes information on healthy multi-cultural, vegetarian and vegan eating patterns.
U.S. food consumption by calories includes 51% from refined and processed foods, 42% from animal foods, 2% from white potato products, which includes French fries and potato chips, and only 5% from the foods proven to support health and prevent chronic diseases: vegetables (especially greens), fruits, legumes (beans and lentils) and unprocessed nuts and seeds (no added oil, sugar or salt).
NYCHSL works closely with the New York State Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and has been involved in writing resolutions for healthy school foods. They hired Jay Mankita to write songs about healthy foods which they piloted in New York City schools, and just recorded a CD of those songs. They have gained celebrity support from artist Peter Max, Jayni and Chevy Chase, Billy Baldwin, Hallie Kate Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Nellie McKay, and Chynna Phillips. NYCHSL has presented at school nurse, food service, and PTA conferences, done a teachers conference in New York City with United Federation of Teachers, and presented to many local PTA’s, in addition to helping students make changes in their schools.
Brenda Davis, RD,co-author of Becoming Vegetarian, Becoming Vegan, Defeating Diabetes, and Dairy-Free and Delicious sums it up: “Asking schools to offer a completely plant-based, vegan entrée each day as a healthy option in the cafeteria is a very wise and rational first step…This is something that all mainstream organizations now agree with, including the United States Department of Agriculture guidelines, which state “Get most of your calories from plant foods (grains, fruits, vegetables)”.
Contact: Amie Hamlin, Executive Director
New York Coalition for Healthy School Lunches
Tel: 631-286-8720
E-mail: amie@optonline.net
Web: www.healthylunches.org
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