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School District Gets an “A”: Lots of Veggies to Choose From
Fairfax School District, Virginia
By Lindsey Middendorf
Dandelions Unlimited Intern
Western Washington University
Fairfax School District has been getting a lot of attention for its healthy, vegetarian-friendly school lunch program. In 2006 the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) gave the district an “A” on their Healthy School Lunches Report Card, rating the school on their inclusion of vegetarian and vegan options and the overall health of their lunch program. Because of the hard work of Penny McConnell, Director of Food and Nutrition Services for the district, Fairfax School District received the highest score of the seventeen largest school districts that PCRM reviewed.
Fairfax School District gives vegetarians and vegans a lot to choose from. At least five vegetarian options are offered daily, with at least one or two vegan options, and soy milk is offered a la carte. No vegetarian will go hungry here! The number of vegetarian students has been on the rise, and though the district has incorporated vegetarian options for a long time, within the past five years McConnell says that she has noticed a growing demand for vegetarian and vegan fare because of students’ religious, cultural, and personal preferences. To introduce new items to the diversifying menu, students participate in monthly taste tests to determine if they would like to the item on future menus. “Nothing goes on any of our menus unless it passes a student taste party,” explains McConnell. The PCRM website states that the district “continues to be a standout program” and says that “Fairfax is a school lunch success story.” (1) Fairfax School District is a shining example of a school lunch program that respects the needs of its vegetarian and vegan students, and deeply cares about the overall health of all students.
1- http://www.healthyschoollunches.org/reports/report2007_card.html
Resources
2007 School Lunch Report Card (PCRM's Healthy School Lunches website)
Fairfax Counties Public Schools School Lunches
A Veggie-Laden Lunch Line (Washington Post article)
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