Vegetarian Star

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.

(more…)

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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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The most unhealthy school lunch sitting in the cafeteria these days is beef and cheese nachos.

Given the amount of animal fat, cholesterol and dairy in such a meal, it’s easy to understand why.

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine analyzed the school lunches on menus from 18 elementary schools across the country and found meatloaf and potatoes, cheeseburgers, cheese sandwiches and pepperoni pizza didn’t trail far behind the beefy nachos.

A bill introduced by representative Jared Polis, the Healthy School Meals Act or H.R. 4870, is trying to change this.

If passed, it would provide funds to school districts to purchase healthier items and place more vegetarian entrees and non dairy beverages on the menus.

H.R. 4870 can’t come soon enough!

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Woody Harrelson and his wife Laura Louie have written to Congress, asking them to support H.R. 4870, a bill that would incorporate more vegetarian lunches and non dairy beverages in school menus that is otherwise known as the Healthy School Meals Act.

The longtime vegetarians wrote, “As parents, we ask you to support HR 4870, the Healthy School Meals Act of 2010. We know from watching our own children grow up that eating habits children develop early on stick with them for life. All too often, young people are offered processed meats and cheese and other greasy, high-fat, high-cholesterol foods.”

“The Healthy School Meals Act will help children develop better eating habits, provide healthful plant-based options that naturally contain no cholesterol, are low in saturated fat and high in fibre, enabling schools to reach high nutrition standards easily. The legislation gives schools the incentive and ability to address the health problems that are harming our children and overburdening our health systems.”

The bill was introduced by representative Jared Polis, who lost a significant amount of weight after making changes to his diet and has expressed concern for the childhood obesity epidemic.

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Last week’s 10 Things I Hate About You featured Kat Stratford winning one for the team by getting her school to offer Meatless Mondays.

However, the student council member she teamed up with to get it passed didn’t tell her he was going to set up a pepperoni pizza stand on the same day declaring war on the vegetarian movement.

Ah, politics.

There is real progress happening in schools, however, to make vegetarian meals the norm, and the South Florida Miami-Dade school district has offered these for a long time.

Recently, the district added three new options to its menu: faux chicken nuggets, veggie burgers and hummus platters.

And no, kids aren’t pitching tents on the football field offering cold cuts to counteract this.

“We’re offering these items on the menu, and not seeing trays and trays go into the garbage can,” said Penny Parham to the Miami Herald, who oversees food services in the district.

If passed, the Healthy School Meals Act, H.R. 4870, introduced by representative Jared Polis, will offer school districts across the nation to test the introduction of vegetarian foods and non dairy beverages into their menus over the next couple of years.

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Out magazine has compiled its annual “Most Influential Gay Men and Women” and vegan Ellen DeGeneres is number one on the list.

Besides her presence on television and activism for gay rights, Ellen’s impact on the animal rights movement is touched on as well in Out’s short description of why she topples the competition.

From Out:

“A passionate advocate for marriage equality, an avid opponent of “don’t ask, don’t tell,” and staunch defender of animal rights, DeGeneres’s enormous platform is many an American’s gain.”

Other notables who’ve made or are making contributions to the vegetarian and animal community are Project Runway’s Tim Gunn, who recorded an anti-fur PSA and frowns upon contestants who attempt to use it in competition.

Also, representative Jared Polis, who recently introduced the Healthy School Meals Act that will hopefully introduce more meat free and non dairy beverage options in school districts, is in the top 10.

For the entire list, visit Out.

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Amanda Beard, gold medal Olympic swimmer who posed in a very provocative PETA ad against fur, is once again taking on the activist role.

She, along with Olympic soccer goalkeeper Hope Solo and gymnast Nastia Liukin have written to members of Congress, asking them to pass the Healthy School Meals Act of 2010, H.R. 4870.

“I work with young swimmers around the nation to help them overcome obstacles and set high goals,” writes Beard, 2008 co-captain of the U.S. women’s Olympic swimming team and winner of seven Olympic medals.

“But these young athletes face one tough challenge no young person should have to struggle against—the meals they’re served at school are often swimming in fat and cholesterol.”

Beard’s entire letter may be read here.

The Healthy School Meals Act of 2010 was introduced in March by Rep. Jared Polis of Colorado and aims to curb childhood obesity and is supported by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.

The Act would introduce healthier items, which include regular vegetarian options, in school districts around the country.

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