The
PETITION
We,
the citizens of the United States of America,
petition local, state, and federal government
leaders to provide our students with an exercise
program that promotes daily physical activity
and a healthy, natural, and nutritionally
sound lunch program. Our school lunch program
should be based on natural and unprocessed
foods, whole grains, water and fresh fruits
and vegetables.
CURRENT
SITUATION
Our
students require a balanced diet comprising
natural foods such as vegetables, whole grains,
and lean meats. Processed foods, fried foods,
‘fast foods’, and foods high in
saturated or trans fats are unacceptable.
Chips, soda, and ice cream and not acceptable
alternatives to fresh fruit, nuts, and water.
Growing bodies need quality protein, complex
carbohydrates (not refined and processed carbs),
and vegetables for proper development. Refined
carbohydrates, or simple carbs, are foods
such as potatoes, pasta, and white bread.
The brain needs adequate amounts of water
to function properly and sodas and sugar-based
drinks are unacceptable substitutes.
However,
many students receive inadequate nutrition
and poor food choices from their school or
lunch provider. For many students the only
source of proper nutrition is in the schools
and therefore it is our duty to provide wholesome,
natural, unprocessed, and nutritious foods.
Much
progress has been made over the years to provide
students with adequate nutrition, yet much
work remains. Snacks and junk food are readily
available and often labeled as ‘healthy
and nutritious’.
Many
foods such as candy, sugar, soda, juice, and
refined carbohydrates can cause severe spikes
in blood sugar levels, which can make concentration
and learning difficult if not impossible.
OUR
MISSION
To
promote the availability of high quality food
and nutrition that growing bodies need.
To
limit the availability of junk food, soda,
sugar, and other unhealthy foods in our schools.
To
promote knowledge of foods and food choices
in our schools and for supporting organizations
(administration, school board, food providers,
etc.)
WHY IT IS NEEDED
Hot
dogs, French fries, chicken nuggets, grilled
cheese and soda have become the staples of
our children’s diets. Junk foods such
cookies, donuts, chocolate and candy have
becoming easy solutions for school snacks.
Child obesity, diabetes, depression and ADD
rates are climbing alarming rates.
In
a 2003 CNN article, Dr. Walter Willett of
Harvard College writes of school lunch programs,
“Their foods then to be at the bottom
of the barrel in terms of healthy nutrition.”
The
human body cannot function at its best without
quality fuel and adequate nutrition is especially
vital when young people are growing and developing.
The
United States Department of Agriculture at
MyPyramid.com states a healthy diet is one
that:
-
Emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains,
and fat-free or low fat milk and milk products
-
Includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans,
eggs, and nuts
-
Is low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol,
salt, and added sugars
WE CALL FOR THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS
1.
The President of the United States to call
on governors and local officials to adopt
this as a formal resolution and that this
initiative contributes to a significant aspect
of our student’s development.
2.
Our governor and state representatives to
pass healthy school lunch program resolutions
at the state level.
3.
School districts to choose vendors that serve
unprocessed, natural, and whole foods and
to eliminate soda and junk food vending machines
from both student and teacher access.
4.
School lunch providers to recognize the importance
of what we feed our students and its relationship
to proper development and therefore implement
a plan to incorporate more unprocessed, natural,
and whole foods while reducing fried foods,
refined carbohydrates and those high in saturated
fat.
5.
Principals to support this initiative in any
way they can, including but not limited to
communicating to their schools, teachers,
administration, parents, and lunch providers
the importance and necessity of this initiative.
We ask that principals recognize the profound
positive effects PEP promotes and insist their
district align their programs with these goals.
6.
Parents and teachers use the resources provided
by PEP and create family and personal goals
in line with those of PEP.
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