Report Title:

Vegetarian School Lunches

THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

151

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

URGING THE STATE DEPARTMENTS OF HEALTH, AGRICULTURE, AND EDUCATION, AND THE HAWAII SCHOOL FOOD SERVICE TO DEVELOP NUTRITIONALLY SOUND MENU PLANS THAT WILL PROVIDE alternate VEGETARIAN SCHOOL LUNCHES and REQUESTing removal of SODA from softdrink vending machines on public school CAMPUSES.

 

WHEREAS, na keiki o ka aina typically spend at least seven hours at public school during the weekday; and

WHEREAS, during the extensive time students are at public schools, they should be provided with nutritious food and drinks in order to mature in developmentally appropriate ways; and

WHEREAS, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Cancer Society, the American Dietetic Association, the American Heart Association, and the National Institutes of Health now recommend that there be greater emphasis in the American diet on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains; and

WHEREAS, all the essential organic nutrients in the human diet are synthesized by plants and microorganisms; and

WHEREAS, fruits and vegetables promote good health because they contain fiber and essential nutrients, including vitamins and minerals; they are low in fat and calories, containing no cholesterol; and they also contain phytochemicals that may provide additional protection to reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease; and

WHEREAS, to the contrary, many public schools provide vending machines that offer soda to students, teachers, and staff and this soda is unhealthy because it typically contains too much sugar and caffeine; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Health is striving to increase public awareness of the importance of eating five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day for better health; and

WHEREAS, increased consumption of locally grown fruits and vegetables promotes a sustainable environment; and

WHEREAS, a significant minority of Hawaii school children identify themselves as vegetarian, or come from vegetarian families; and

WHEREAS, these children are at a disadvantage if no vegetarian school lunch meals are offered in their respective schools; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-First Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2001, the House of Representatives concurring, that state agencies, including the Department of Health, Department of Agriculture, the Department of Education, and the Hawaii School Food Service are encouraged to develop nutritionally sound menu plans that will provide alternate vegetarian school lunches in such a way that all students will be assured nutritionally balanced diets, regardless of their food preferences and avoidances; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to remove soda from softdrink vending machines in all public schools in favor of more nutritional drinks; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Director of the Hawaii School Food Service is requested to report to the Legislature by September 1, 2002, on programs made to offer alternate vegetarian school lunches; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health, the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture, the Chairperson of the Board of Education, the Superintendent of Education, and the Director of the Hawaii School Food Service.