Vegetarian Star

Nicole Richie is one of the greenest celebrity moms out there, known for being super-strict about buying organic products for the family, eating less meat, and composting. It’s no surprise she’s one of a slew of celebrities backing the Healthy School Meals Act, a bill that would provide regular vegetarian and dairy-free beverage options to more schools.

Richie and her partner, Joel Madden, recently opened a Los Angeles garden for school children and suggests this is yet another way government can give schools the kick they need to churn out healthy, intelligent adults.

“It’s wonderful to teach children about good nutrition and show them how to grow vegetables, but it’s even more important to ensure that they actually have an opportunity to eat these healthier foods on a daily basis.”

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Sarah Silverman can make a joke out of just about anything. But the state of school lunches today is no laughing matter and the comedian showed her serious side when she wrote to Congress, requesting it pass the Healthy School Meals Act. Silverman joins several celebrities who have voiced their support for the bill that would make vegetarian options more readily available in schools nationwide.

“All kids—vegetarian or not—should have healthy options. I think we forget the simple fact that what we put in our bodies directly effects our bodies. Many kids aren’t able to bring lunches from home—they have to eat what’s in the lunch line. Without healthful options in the cafeteria, we’re doing our children and the future of our country a great disservice.”

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Russell Simmons hosted an event in his home for two schools that provide environments for many African-American and Latino boys to succeed in an area where their educational outcomes aren’t always good. The event raised $250,00 for the Eagle Academy Foundation, which supports three New York City schools for the young men.

Providing the food was Acquolina Catering, which served fried tofu with cilantro sauce and Portobello burger and chocolate mousse–all vegan items.

Two of the schools boast an 85% graduate rate for the students, compared to the average of 50% for African-American and Latino men in other schools in the region.

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Tavis Smiley is the latest celebrity to add his name to the growing list of those who support The Healthy School Meals Act, which would allow schools in the United States to incorporate more vegetarian entrees and more dairy free beverages in their lunch programs.

Tavis has written a letter to U.S. Congressman George Miller (D-Calif.) supporting the Healthy School Meals Act, H.R. 4870.

“I would like to ask for your help in empowering our nation’s children. I’ve been a radio talk show host for years, and I’ve always aimed to be a voice for the disadvantaged, the persecuted, and all in need of help. Children today need assistance gaining access to more healthful food, so I’m asking you to join me and the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine in supporting the Healthy School Meals Act, H.R. 4870.”

“Millions of children from low-income families receive free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program. African-American children and Hispanic children are especially likely to benefit by receiving meals through this program. But we must work together to ensure that our schools offer the healthiest food possible.”

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As a kid, Colorado representative Jared Polis never brought a Lunchable to school for lunch.

Nor did he dine on a gourmet meal of beef jerky, processed packaged gas station stick cheese and fruit rollups for desserts.

He described his typical lunchbox as being filled with yogurt, celery, carrots, dried fruit and almonds.

Maybe that’s why he’s so adamant about getting his Healthy School Meals Act passed, a bill that would give schools more money to incorporate vegetarian and non-dairy items on the menu.

“They don’t get the kind of choices I did,” Polis was quoted as saying by Westword. “Many times, it’s their most substantial meal of the day.”

As an adult, Polis nibbles on Nori in between congressional meetings.

Creative, vegetarian and vegan lunch ideas can be found at Vegan Lunch Box, a blog written by mom Jennifer McCann, who’s made contributions to well read magazines like Vegetarian Times.

McCann’s ideas are great for kids, but big kids can also take advantage of her suggestions, which are accompanied by colorful photos of often Bento Box style arrangements of food.

McCann’s book, Vegan Lunchbox, as well as her cookbook that includes vegan cuisines from Japanese, Moroccan and other regions, Vegan Lunchbox Around The World, is a good  supplement to the blog containing recipes like Buckwheat Tabbouleh Wraps, Cabbage Rolls with Garbanzo Beans and Magic Loaf Sandwich.

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Ellen DeGeneres and wife Portia de Rossi have become the latest celebrities to show support for representative Jared Polis‘ bill that would enable schools to provide more vegetarian meals and non-dairy beverage options in cafeterias.

The ladies have sent a written letter to Congress, urging them to back the Healthy School Meals Act.

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Colorado representative Jared Polis revealed his suggestions to put more vegetarian and non-dairy options in school lunches could cost around $50 million a year, but insists the benefits would outweigh the costs in health care savings.

Polis was in Denver, Colorado recently promoting his bill, The Healthy School Meals Act.

“One of the things I’ve always been dismayed by is the nutritional value of the meals schools serve,” Polis said.

He also emphasized the importance of offering non dairy options to the 10-20% of children who are lactose intolerant.

Although the National School Lunch Program requires schools to always offer cow’s milk, a 2004 reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act and National School Lunch Act allowed schools to offer non dairy alternatives as long as they were equal to nutrition in milk.

However, the USDA does not cover any additional price difference, and as a result, schools aren’t able to offer alternatives like soy or rice milk.

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Basketball legend John Salley recently went to Congress to throw his support for the Healthy School Meals Act, H.R. 4870.

The bill, that would offer more plant based proteins and non dairy beverages in schools, currently has 51 co-sponsors in Congress, according to Afro.

Salley is eager to see these items on the menus, even if meat is still served besides them.

“It’s important for folks to know that I’m not against meat, I’m for fruits and vegetables, just like I’m not against war, I’m for peace,” Salley said.

Currently, in some schools, it may be better to send a child to McDonald’s for lunch.

A USA Today investigation found that many fast food giants like Jack in the Box require more rigorous testing for pathogens in meat used in their restaurants, testing it up to 5-10 times more than the USDA does for school lunches.

Or try packing some cat chow in the lunchbox.

Chicken normally only acceptable for pet food was also routinely accepted by USDA standards.

Just another reason to forgo the “mystery” meat, where unknown substances don’t just refer to animal parts.

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