I am sorry to say but I am against that. If school lunch rooms were better equipped to do smaller size meals I would go for it.

Vegans should not have to bring their lunches to schools all the time, but there would be so much more wasted food if they had to prepare lunch for 5% of the population of the school.

Also the request for it does not mean the children will eat it. Don't get me wrong I have a vegan friend that I go to lunch with all the time and it is hard enough finding places that serve something he will eat.

The 5% would only apply to get things started. Obviously, we are using this as an introduction to a more healthful lifestyle. In time,  we expect that more kids would partake and the school food service would be induced to prepare more healthful meals for all. This was the thinking of the four state legislatures (California, New York, Florida, and Hawaii) that voted to recommend daily vegan school lunch options in their states.

Many foods that omnivores eat naturally are, or can be, vegan. Johnny, you seem to be assuming that only vegan children would eat the vegan meals, and I don't believe that's true.

Stephanie, Maybe I misunderstand the idea.

"Require USDA to mandate vegan school lunch options"

The above statement to me makes me think that the idea is to provide a totally vegan meal. Not healthy choices on the menu. That is why I made the statement I did.

Only some schools have mix and match lunch system. Most of the schools have the following. Entree A or Entree B. So the above statement made me think you are asking to make a Entree C.

Lets number crunch: Average School size is about 700 to 800 for elementary schools. Most schools in our area equipped to make meals in sizes of 150 to 300 portions. If only 5% of the kids are vegan and lets say we have a 3% bleed over from omnivores, you would not get the vegan meals eaten and there would be a lot more waste.

Alex you mentioned Florida and vegan meals. Do you know what a lot of schools do to get over on they system because it would cost them to much money to retool the kitchen and drive their budget up. Peanut Butter and Jelly Bar, Macaroni & Cheese, etc. Just put something on the menu make sure it meats the vegan standard and you won't get in trouble. With that being said, they don't create a vegan meal each day. They put the words upon request on the menu so they follow the letter of the law.

But I do concede that providing better choices for breakfast and lunch for schools is needed.

Perhaps this could be adapted to be a "vegetarian/vegan lunch day" during the week.  That way, the omnivorous children will have a "chance" (read: be forced) to try veg food, while parents of omni children that don't want to eat veg will have to make their kid's lunch that day, just like the veg children's parents currently have to do every day.  But I would bet that a lot of omni kids would just eat the veg lunch once a week, while the veg kids would at least have a once-a-week option.  I think it could work. 

The human body requires components that are, indeed, found IN animal bodies, but (1) those components do not require the consumption of animal parts or flesh or 'proteins' and (2) those animal 'proteins' that humans habitually consume have taken their 'animal proteins' from consuming plant proteins from their amino acid constituents.  We humans can consume the amino acids we require from plants, from which our bodies (semi-automatically) assemble those constituent amino acids into the kinds of proteins we humans can use.

Every morning, MOST children and MOST adults DO eat "vegetarian foods" for breakfast - a bowl of cereal with milk.

Many times throughout the day, the majority of Americans will consume something that is "vegan" - orange juice, a piece of "fruit in the hand", a vegetable (celery or carrot stick), etc.  To avoid real foods, natural foods that we have historically consumed merely because they contain cholesterol seems to lack any just rationale, and surely there's no scientifically-founded evidence base to mandate avoiding fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, nuts, seeds de jure.  To the contrary, there's a strong scientifically-founded evidence base to mandate avoiding animal products largely or even entirely, and the growing body of evidence is converging around that kind of recommendation.

America's population enjoys, albeit irregularly, a high level of both educational attainment and scientific sophistication.  America's public and private schools are likely to have growing numbers of children who for reasons of conscience and/or health will avoid animal products and/or strongly prefer plant-based foods, though they would likely prefer those plant-based foods "customized" as family foods, comfort foods, tasty meal items, and savory morsel.

Exclusion of smart, better-informed persons is a violation of the kind of rights we're trying to build - the right to make reasoned, informed judgments in living our lives as in deciding on public policy.  Mere 'preference' should not override good judgment in school cafeterias because food choices become habits, and not only are habits 'rationalized', but public health outcomes result from the food choices that are made and encouraged in public school cafeterias.

If this country is serious about our obesity problem, it wouldn't hurt to have some vegan options.  It can be as simple as substituting ingredients, not changing the menu.
But I suspect that the schools serve what they do because they probably get government surplus.  This may be a bit off-topic.  But I would like to see the government include subsidies to the small organic farmers, or at least farmers who raise crops other than corn, soy and wheat.  That would make healthy food choices affordable for families and for schools.

In response to Johnny:
You say : The above statement to me makes me think that the idea is to provide a totally vegan meal. Not healthy choices on the menu.
Can I ask why you assume offering a vegan meal would not be a healthy choice? Most vegan food that is cooked is lower in fat, cholesterol, higher in nutrients as it is cooking with whole, fresh foods with a ton of fruits and vegetables.

You also say: If only 5% of the kids are vegan and lets say we have a 3% bleed over from omnivores, you would not get the vegan meals eaten and there would be a lot more waste.  I say: How would there be more waste? I can make at least 30 different entrees that are vegan and you wouldn't even know that it would be missing meat or animal products. You wouldn't even be able to tell so neither would the kids. Vegan food can be deliscious so I doubt there would be the waste that you are calculating. All children could eat the vegan food so the cafeteria would only need to make one entree.

You say: Do you know what a lot of schools do to get over on they system because it would cost them to much money to retool the kitchen and drive their budget up. I say: It is really simple to cook vegan and does not require any retooling. I have been a vegan for seven months now and have used the same tools I used to cook meat. I haven't had to buy any elaborate tools for my kitchen. You just need the regular pots and pans.

If you like you can send me an email and I can send you more information about veganism? Most vegans focus on foods that are healthy, whole grains which are great for fiber. I have noticed a ton of changes in myself since I have become vegan. Things that I have had to take pills for now are happening naturally.

Shannon Kowalson

A wonderful idea - options OPTIONS ! 

see another idea that offers an option:
click into IDEAS at the top of the page and type in Reflexology

Shouldn't the students be requesting them, not the parents?

Sorry Shanon we got off topic.. a bit. Pop to the top and read down. Iam all about retooling the schools to accomodate a vegan meal at lunch for our children. The problem I have is with the statement of mandating it to schools without giving them the money to retool the kitchen for smaller sized portions.

Never said Vegan food is unhealthy. I go out and eat with my Vegan friend normally at work. Lets get back on topic and not make it a debate on if it is health or not. Lets go back to the orginal statement.

I do not aggre with this statement, "Require USDA to mandate vegan school lunch options, in addition to the standard fare, in those schools where at least 5% of parents request them."

If that means telling the school to make a vegan meal each day without giving them the funds to do it. Now a good suggestion was made. Make a vegan or vegitarian meal once a week. That is a good idea.

Shannon the waste I am talking about is the following. Most school kitchens make meal sizes of 150 to 300. The waste would come in play if they made that much food and it was not getting eaten. You give schools the money to change the pots as you said from 50 gallen to say 25 gallen. Also change the sizing of the ovens to lower capacity ovens. You won't waste energy by heating a giant oven for small amounts of food, etc.

My statement of waste was not just talking about wasted food but energy etc.

I am not sure I agree with a Vegan lunch option. but I definetely feel kids should have a vegetarian, dairy free options. Most childern in elementary school would not choose proper food if it is allowd to mix matched. I know I have 2 grandsons in elementary school. For middle school and high school yes mix and match and give vegetarian options. For younger childeren give them a set meal but where they can choose vegetarian meal.

I think for middle and high school mix and match would be fine and give lots of vegetarian options. For elementary school they should be given a vegetarian meal choice but that is already made up. I do not think a Vegan meal is nessary, but I do think a dairy free vegetarian options are a must for kids in public schools.

Mandating VEGAN lunches in schools?
This is why dems loose the election right after winning one.
We've got numerous problems, both here at home and abroad to deal with, and some want to divert that precious political capital to forcing people into an alternative lifestyle.
Time should be spent ending the Iraq War, investigating 9/11 properly and righting the economy, not trying to become a hippy type alternative universe.
The right wing media machine will eat this shit up and it won't be pretty.
Already forgotten how Slick Willie blew his political capitol by wanting to let gays serve openly in the military?

I think it's a great idea - for me, as well as for everyone else.
Many corporate offices have vegan options for coworkers, whether or not they're vegan, and more employees ARE vegan.

Over the decades I've watched how nonvegetarians take vegetarian food for breakfast and lunch and have only one nonvegetarian meal.

So opting vegetarian or vegan is more and more common, and it's a 'lowest common denominator' for more and more folks.

Offering these 'de jure' or as standard practice in school lunchrooms is preparing young people for the corporate world.  It's merely updating school lunch practice to emulate corporate and institutional practice in higher income work environments where higher levels of educational attainment are found.

Our country should currently be quite embarassed by our school lunch program.  Not all school districts, but the majority. 

I believe that providing children with a choice, with healthy vegetarian and vegan options on a daily (yes DAILY) basis is perhaps one of the only ways we're going to truly change the eating habits of this nation. 

Their own parents are already quite set in their ways of both thinking and eating.  No one is going to get their parents to change their minds about eating a cow, cheez whiz or doritos. 

But, the kids?

Well, if you provide them with school lunches every day that embrace fresh, healthy, vegetarian and vegan options and perhaps (yes perhaps!!) combine those options with some education about how their food choices are directly impacting the health of not only their own bodies but the entire planet, well, you might just see some healthy changes.

Just a guess.  But it seems to me with increasing obesity and mounting health issues plaguing our entire population, it would be worth at least trying. 

The proteins available in meat are simply too important to young growing bodies, to endorse this idea.

We don't need any more regulations in school. Sorry, but vegans can take their lunch. I take a sandwich every day at my high school.

Veganic foods are the most sustainable, ethical and healthy.  (goveganic.net, goveg.com)  Humans DO NOT need meat and dairy to be healthy, the truth is the opposite!  Our jaw structure, digestive system, etc. is that of an Herbivore.  But Americans are exposed to daily advertisements telling them it's normal, so they go along with it (and heart disease remains the #1 killer because of it), without checking the science, just like toxic fluoride in our drinking water, or mercury in our teeth fillings... we have to end this insanity!
http://colindonoghue.wordpress.com/

Great idea,  it would have full support here.

I think that schools should offer more vegan or at least vegetarian friendly options. My high school offered vegetarian options almost every day my senior year, mostly because my drama club pushed heavily for it (most of us were gay vegetarians) and we had an amazing coordinator. Junior year, it was very hard to find something that wasn't completely filled with grease and processed meat.

That's another thing, this processed BS has got to end too.

Why "MANDATE" what people eat?  This is a special interest for vegans only.

Stop special interests - keep every free citizen in mind when making policy.

plant food has protein too, there are plenty of perfectly healthy vegetarian/vegan kids.

if a school makes 2 omnivorous options, why not just change one of those options over to the vegan meal? 

there are plenty of kids who would choose a flavorful stew over a greasy pile of chicken nuggets and cheese sticks.  (i can't believe kids are eating that stuff every day!)

think of it this way.  omnivores can easily eat a vegan meal. (lowest common denominator)  but vegans and vegetarians can't eat omnivore meals.  if the schools care about their students, they'll provide an option that is loaded with vegetables each and every day.  the kids will learn good habits, and they might not become vegan, but they'll form a love for vegetables and will carry that into adulthood.  everybody wins!  (except of course for the doctors that would have treated those overweight unhealthy kids/future adults)

i don't know about you, but peanut butter and jelly sandwiches every day gets boring real fast.  i would have been extatic to eat a nice hot bowl of chili, or stew in high school.

I love this idea, but I think it should be in the "Education" category.

This is a wonderful idea. Non-toxic, real food is a must for developing little minds. Proper nutrition is essential for child development.

It should be a criminal offense to serve any type of mystery meat, i.e., "hot dogs" with their bleach-enriched white flour buns in any type of school setting.

A vegan diet can be very healthy.  That said, not all vegan diets were created equal.  Any vegan knows that it takes a lot of planning and work to create a balanced healthful diet.  Do you really think that the schools are going to put in the extra planning and work?  We can all sit back and say they should, but I think we all know that they won't.  School food service is underfunded and this will only generate higher costs.  It sounds great, but be practical. 

So many people have milk allergies, lactose intolerance, or an intolerance for the industry cruelty, use of growth hormones, or because they know it is best for their health to avoid cow breast milk.  BUT if a child would like to have soy (or almond,rice,etc) milk, even for one day, they CURRENTLY NEED A Doctor's NOTE!
Offer non-dairy milk alternatives!

  Even if we have more waste, which won't necessarily happen, we know that promoting children eating plant-based meals will have a much LOWER impact on the environment (an eighth? tenth?) than foods containing animal products not just in the school, but if they develop habits out this, as in even children growing into adults with a habit of eating less meat/dairy/etc having a couple vegan meals per week will results in so much less of a burden on their health and the environment!

  "Why "MANDATE" what people eat?  This is a special interest for vegans only.   Stop special interests - keep every free citizen in mind when making policy."    Posted by DL Wells on 12/09/2008 @ 08:12AM PST >>>It is already Mandated that schools must serve milk. This proposal is no mandate to what people eat, it is offering an alternative to those children (and their parents) who care about their environment, their health, or wish to avoid taking part in the industry standard practices of cruelty on US factory farms by avoiding these animal products. It is clearly the opposite of a mandate in that it allows CHOICE.
"Special interest" or is it a citizen's/student's right to have access to healthy food?

To provide healthy school lunches we must change the nature of current policy:
From Commotidy Agriculture PROMOTION (based on a 1947 program to provide 'enough calories' through the US Dept of Agriculture to the budget within the
Department of Education, healthy foods served that match the nutrition lessons in the classroom, not contradict them.

This is incredibly stupid. Kids can barely be taught what to eat as it is without giving them access to a diet that can kill them.

Someone please tell me where the Constitution gives the Federal Government the authority to regulate school lunches.  I'm waiting.

This is a great idea...parents can feed their children dead animals when they get home from school in the privacy of their own homes!

>This is a great idea...parents can feed their children dead >animals when they get home from school in the privacy of their >own homes!>Posted by Renata Halpin on 12/13/2008 @ 02:59AM PST


               Where do you think the leather on your shoes came from??

The government must cater to the majority... literally in this case. Consuming only vegetarian (or some subset from a more traditional omnivorous ) diet is a noble endeavour to those that prefer, but it does not imply the govt should cater to every group.

Is there any doubt that many animals eat each other. Its not out of anger, its a matter of survival.  Is it a huge crime that whales gulp down TONS of little fish and plankton?

Calling Omnivorous diet wrong is not necessarily fair. 

Nonetheless, the public government should cater to the dietary needs of 90% of the mainstream,, but provide some way for others of different choices a way to subsist.

While I don't mind if someone doesn't wear a motorcyclists helmet, I just don't want to pay for their health insurance bills when they crash.

Should being different cost more? I think so.

I think this is a good idea to at least offer vegan meals in the schools would HELP promote good helth habbits. I myself eat animal products but to offer these meals to kids and teens in schools would be a good start. Im sure at least a few of the hischool kids that eat pizza and junk food every day would start eating mre helthfull foods. althouo the majority of them will still eat animal products. It would lessen heart conditions, lower the number of people geting diabites, and lessen chances of other heth conditions as well. As for the people saying our goverment funding needs to go to more important things. At least part of that would be made up with less docter visits by people who need gov. helthcare to see a docter. Also more would be made up by less people needing S.S.I. payments because they have bad  heart problems ect. that force them not to go out and work.  Any ways I think the pros of offering this choice in schools outwigh the cons.

I understand what Johnny (first post) said about having lots of left over food, but there has been so much at at least my school this year that no one's dared to eat as it is, so I wouldn't see a huge difference.  But I'm also biased because I'm a vegetarian...

Wow,
  It is really nice to see that there are some people who have their minds in the right direction towards changing the thinking patterns of the younge minds.There are a lot of problems in America,and it will take some time to get over them,but the food you put into your body is a big part of the change.I am a high schooler,and the foods they feed kids there are so loaded with unatural things and fatty meats,sweets,chips, etc.

 I would love to see a healther force enter our school lunch program.
 - peace and love

School Lunches Should Provide Nourishment, not Disease

"The consumption of dairy, especially at the younger ages, is a problem" Dr T. Colin Campbell PhD

"Not only at Fox River Grove Middle School but also in thousands of schools across the country, corporate agribusiness has run amok in the attempt to utilize public education as a place to establish the naturalization of commercial meat and dairy as lifelong eating habits, to generate increased sales, to subsidize the food industry against decreased producer prices, as well as to funnel below-health standards food not fit for public sale. Warwak was correct to demand the riddance of the Dairy Council’s posters as they had in fact already been targeted for removal from approximately 105,000 public schools by the Federal Trade Commission" Dr Richard Kahn PhD

The American public school system is actively keeping gravely serious information from you and your children. People deserve all the information so they can choose wisely about things such as living an extra 10 to 12 years or never having to worry about many cancers, heart attacks or strokes.

I am simply offering information and have not forced food or beliefs down people's throats. Imagine if just saying or writing something could force people to change.

It is not a "personal choice" when you are eating my friends and you are ruining my world. My tax money subsidizes your "personal choice." When you made your "personal choice," did you ask the animal if you could confine, torture, and murder him or her? When you made your "personal choice," did you ask me if I mind all your pollution and devastation? Just because we personally make selfish choices does not make them "personal choices."

Humane education reinforced with a vegan school lunch will end school shootings and create a generation that cares. When children see that adults care enough to change, they will care in turn. This is too serious of an issue to leave alone just because some wish to eat unimpeded.

After trying to teach the evils of meat to our children, there was a 143 million-pound recall that was too late for our children in the school system. Turns out, 384 pounds of the recalled meat from Westland was made into taco meat and fed to our children at Fox River Grove Middle School in April and the months after of 2007.

You can confirm this with Jim Copp, Principal Consultant Division of Nutrition Programs and Support Services Illinois State Board of Education. USDA announced the recall for fears of mad cow disease. I was fired for trying to warn the kids and if just one of them gets Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, which is the human form of mad cow disease, who are we to blame?

How sad it would be if one child, just one child gets a brain-wasting disease through our fault. It is called spongiform encephalitis for a good reason. The brain turns into a sponge. I know what you are thinking. It cannot happen here. Meat and dairy have no place in the school lunch program. Animals were never food. We were raised wrong. We are teaching wrong.

I find it very disturbing that schools hide veganism from children and promote false dairy industry advertisements. School administrators have proven they do not care to change – even when children’s lives are at stake.

What can be more important than children’s lives?

Schools should be delivering truth; instead, money-hungry administrators promote evil lies and sell out the children we entrusted them to care for.

Children want all the information and appreciate having choices – especially when their own health and well-being are in danger. The philosophy learned in classrooms today becomes the philosophy of society tomorrow.

Schools avoid humane education and teach students to be ignorant and apathetic.

Not knowing and not caring are different things. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is nothing to sweep under the rug. I wonder how people will feel in 10 to 15 years when the children of today are the “dropping-like-flies” adults of tomorrow. It breaks my heart, but at least I know I did everything possible to let people know.

Moreover, because the people in charge wish to oppress the trusting children, I vow to continue informing generations to come.

Welcome to the new world of beef recalls, truth, and responsible vegan teachers. http://veganschool101.com

This is insane and dangerious to growing children.

I am hearing a few concerns about this idea, such as:

*Worry that we are telling people how to eat-- Wouldn't the same hold true for the food we're already giving them? What I see in various schools is it's either bbq mystery meat patty, mystery meat dog, or a premade/packaged pb & jelly.  If you include an OPTION allowing any student to CHOOSE a vegan entree isn't that their choice?
*Concern that since we are at war, that we're in a recession, and have other problems, we should not be concerned nor seek change in what our children are eating. We have a progresively worsening EPIDEMIC of obesity and young children showing signs of heart disease and developing diabetes at very young ages. These are all nutrition related: it's finally time to work on *prevention*!
*This IDEA is about providing options to those who are vegan, vegetarian, or a simply are tired of the mystery meat. These meals can be selected by any student or adult eating lunch in school. It's about an option at lunch--the world will not end if a child selects a non-meat/dairy entree for lunch.
*The meat and dairy are currently subsidized with tax-payer money.  Why is it fair to continue to provide just meat and dairy based entrees with this money?
*It's a hippie idea and the right wing will shoot it down--I didn't know it was hippie-ish to want to give children who are concerned about their health, a healthy nourishing meal to help them better focus on their education. (I see kids with severe congestion consume lots of dairy at lunch and I hear frequent 'my tummy hurts' after lunch. In the schools I work at with so many African-American and Asian students, it is likely that much of the chool is lactose intolerant and or have allergies to milk and dairy.)  I was unaware the right-wing was against allowing children to have access to healthy food.
*They will need all new equipment.-- Standard kitchen equipment would do just fine, an oven, pans and cutting board are pretty universal. Some additional food prep will be needed. Are children worth it? Or their health doesn't matter?
*Other concern:There will be a great deal of waste. -- There already is a great deal of waste. Kids waste a great deal of food. Wasting plant-based foods is much less a burden on the environment than the meat and dairy they are already wasting. Composting can have a huge impact on teaching chlidren to waste less (in school and beyond) and for the school itself to greatly reduce its garbage and footprint. 

I call for the addition of a vegan breakfast meal as well. One vegan option at lunch and a healthy vegan option at breakfast too.  Many students from low-income families or otherwise eat breakfast at school.

Concern: This is insane and dangerious to growing children.

Of course we want to act in the best interest of our children when discussing to offer just one healthy vegan option at lunch. Those that wish to consume meat and dairy will still be able to do so.

Those interested in getting nutritients like: all the essential amino acids (protein), more vitamins and minerals, fiber without worry of much higher levels artery-clogging saturated fat, cholesterol bovine hormones (it's in milk, even if not added to the cow) and antibiotics (often given to lifestock on factory farms, the main source of school lunch meat) they will find them in the plant-based, vegan lunch option.
So if students choose to eat a healthier lunch on an occasional school day, or for each school lunch---GREAT! Students eating more vegetables? What's the worry, you'd think people would be more concerned about students who spend all their money in vending machines or snack bars and don't even buy a lunch than worrying over more healthy food being offered.

Concern: "This is incredibly stupid. Kids can barely be taught what to eat as it is without giving them access to a diet that can kill them."  Posted by George C. Sievers

I'm not sure what would kill them to have LESS Saturated fat and cholesterol and MORE vitamins, minerals and fiber. 
Science shows us that following more of a plant-based diet is the best way to achieve and maintain optimal health. The most comprehensive study of nutrition ever done: The China Study: www. thechinastudy.com & http://www.plantbasednutrition.org/

A few random thoughts:  
Colleges and universities are pretty good about serving vegan options.  So why not start in high schools and grade schools?(I've read that 20% of the college-aged women are vegan.)
A friend of mine used to prepare food at a local liberal arts college, where there were a number of veg'ns.  I believe that she was in a quandary whether to set it apart for them, or have it all together.  The problem was, if the veg'ns didn't get their food first, the omnivores ate it, and there wasn't enough for the veg'ns.  All that it to say that vegans aren't the only people who would choose vegan options, if it was there for the taking.  And, because of that, more should be offered, so those who depend on it will get something to eat.
To veganize or not?  Thanksgiving is a good example of what could be -- but only if people are attuned to people on special diets.  (I mention this, because I went to a family Thanksgiving dinner where I had to bring my own food, because the only other things I could eat were grapes, nuts & carrot sticks.  Not very Thanksgiving-like.)  Other than the turkey (and there are plenty of alternatives), ALL side dishes and desserts COULD be made without eggs or dairy products.  And it would taste the same.  Everyone could eat it.  Why discriminate against the vegan students by offering them something like a lettuce salad when the rest of the students get a big, full meal?    

Speaking of health, the problem with vegans not having vegan options available is that they do lack the protein and other things, because they can't eat what's on the menu.  If schools offered other protein sources like whole grain bread & peanut butter, or rice & bean recipes, hearty bean soups, etc., it would be a simple solution that would probably be a lot less expensive than, say, veggie burgers or veggie dogs (that are likely to be grilled on the same grill as meat, and therefore unappetizing).

I just found this site again -- "Veganism for the Meat Eater", which was developed by a guy whose girlfriend is vegan, but he isn't.  He has a large collection of recipes that they both can eat -- and that they both like.  
http://www.veganmeat.com/recipie.html

So, the point is, there are lots of things that vegans & meat-eaters can enjoy together.  So if this would catch on, separate menus would be unnecessary.  

I think the school lunch program should be done away with.  I don't know what the rest of the country is like, but the healthy food they claim to be serving in our school district is anything but healthy.  Most of the menu items are loaded with sodium and preservatives.  I pack my son's lunch every day for this reason.

So, ... Barack Obama knows all about the problems with the school lunch program and its implications on the future health of Americans. Will Obama lead by example or will he sweep the issue under the rug? “All ancient philosophy was oriented toward the simplicity of life and taught a certain kind of modesty in one’s need. In light of this, the few philosophic vegetarians have done more for mankind than all new philosophers, and as long as philosophers do not take courage to seek out a totally changed way of life and to demonstrate it by their example, they are worth nothing.” Nietzsche
http://veganschool101.blogspot.com/2008/12/will-obama-lead-by-example.html

I can relate to Elle's point about what passes for food in schools. 
Back when I was in grade school, we had real cooks who made balanced "home cooked" meals.  It was institutional, but freshly made, and the kind of meals our mothers would make for us.  Even in high school we had real cooks.
But when my kids were in school -- or at least by the time they got to high school, the food was processed somewhere else, and trucked in, and warmed up somehow.  The food sounded disgusting.  It was like fast food, except maybe like something that was made days before and had to be rewarmed.
I still think schools get sub-quality government surplus -- no doubt the stuff that the government subsidizes and needs to find some use for.