Senate Resolution No. 3971
BY: Senator LAVALLE
ENCOURAGING local school districts to provide
optional vegetarian school entrees and encourage
nutrition education materials and instruction to
include information about healthy multi-cultural and
vegetarian eating options
WHEREAS, The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Cancer
Society, the American Heart Association, and the National Institutes of
Health make the following recommendations in their "Unified Dietary
Guidelines": choose most of what you eat from plant sources; eat a
variety of foods; eat five or more servings of fruit and vegetables each
day; eat six or more servings of bread, pasta, and cereal grains each
day; eat high-fat foods sparingly, especially those from animal sources;
keep your intake of simple sugars to a minimum; the USDA Dietary
Guidelines for Americans agree with these statements; and
WHEREAS, Recent studies indicate that about one-half of New York
City children and more than one-quarter of New York State children are
overweight or obese and New York State children have a higher obesity
rate than the national average, and therefore are at higher risk of
developing health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, asthma,
and cancer; and
WHEREAS, Diets high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes
are generally lower in fat and calories than other foods and contain no
cholesterol, and promote good health because they contain fiber and
essential nutrients, including vitamins and minerals, and they also
contain phytochemicals and antioxidants that provide additional
protection to reduce the risk of some forms of cancer, heart disease,
obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and other diet related chronic
diseases; and
WHEREAS, A significant percentage of all children, especially those
from minority populations, are considered "at risk" for diet-related
degenerative diseases; and
WHEREAS, All children will benefit by having access to vegetarian
(vegan) options; and
WHEREAS, A growing number of New York school children either
identify themselves as vegetarian or vegan, come from vegetarian or
vegan families, or come from families who avoid meat and dairy foods for
religious, health or ethical reasons and may not have access to school
meal entrees that meet their requirements; and
WHEREAS, Exposure of plant-centered entrees in the school cafeteria
will positively influence children; and
WHEREAS, The American Dietetic Association 2003 Position Paper on
Vegetarian Diets states that "well-planned vegan and other types of
vegetarian diets are appropriate for all stages of the life cycle,
including during pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and
adolescence; vegetarian diets offer a number of nutritional benefits,
including lower levels of saturated fat, cholesterol, and animal protein
as well as higher levels of carbohydrates, fiber, magnesium, potassium,
folate, and antioxidants such as vitamins C and E and phytochemicals;
vegetarians have been reported to have lower body mass index than
nonvegetarians, as well as lower rates of death from ischemic heart
disease; vegetarians also show lower blood cholesterol levels, lower
blood pressure, and lower rates of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and
prostate and colon cancer; although a number of federally funded and
institutional feeding programs can accommodate vegetarians, few have
foods suitable for vegans at this time"; and
WHEREAS, The New York State Department of Health is striving to
increase public awareness of the importance of eating five or more
servings of fruits and vegetables a day with studies indicating the vast
majority of children do not eat the recommended daily allowance for
these foods; and
WHEREAS, Increased consumption of locally grown fruits and
vegetables promotes New York State agriculture and a sustainable
environment; and
WHEREAS, Children may purchase a la carte foods or foods and
beverages from vending machines, and can not choose healthy vegetarian
(vegan) options if they are not made available; and
WHEREAS, Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes are available
through the USDA commodities program but are underutilized or
unavailable to many schools; and
WHEREAS, Research has shown that children will choose healthy items
when nutrition education is provided, at a much higher rate than those
who do not have such education; and
WHEREAS, The USDA has made available a school lunch menu planning
system called "Nutrient Standard Menu Planning," which does not require
a meat component, and which is based on the recognition that most
nutrients may be obtained from a variety of foods and allows for
significantly greater flexibility in menu planning; and
WHEREAS, The USDA's "Food Based" menu planning system requires that
children choose three of five components, including: meat or meat
alternate (which can include beans and nuts), grain, two fruits or
vegetables, and milk, and therefore, does not exclude vegetarian (vegan)
entrees; and
WHEREAS, The USDA 1995 School Meals Initiative suggests that school
food programs, in order to provide variety and encourage consumption and
participation should, whenever possible, offer a selection of menu items
and foods from which pupils may make choices; and
WHEREAS, The USDA does not discriminate on the basis of race, color,
or religion; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
encourage local school districts, with the support of the appropriate
state agencies, including the state departments of Education, Health,
Agriculture and Markets, and the Office of General Services, to provide
nutritionally sound school lunch menu plans that would allow for
appetizing daily optional plant-centered vegetarian (vegan) school
entrees, in such a way that pupils who need to or desire to avoid dairy,
egg and meat products, are assured nutritionally balanced diets, and
these menu plans are phased in over a period of approximately four
years; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the optional plant-centered vegetarian (vegan) school
entrees be developed and provided with a similar standard for variety,
cycle of repeat, and availability as meat and dairy options; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That schools are encouraged to participate in the New York
State farm-to-school program by purchasing foods from local farms
including organic where possible; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Office of General Services should request the
USDA to make available a greater variety of fresh and frozen produce,
legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds through the commodities program;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That schools be encouraged to provide healthy vegetarian
(vegan) high nutrient, low calorie options in vending machines and as a
la carte items and encourage children to choose them and work to
eliminate, in a manner that does not negatively impact staffing, sodas,
candies, deep fried snack foods, and other snacks and beverages that are
low nutrient, and high in fat, sugar or sodium; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the
Commissioner of the State Education Department for distribution to
school food service directors, and to the Executive Director of the New
York State School Food Service Association.
