Nominate School Food-Service Professionals for “Golden Carrot Award”

Now, this is heartening. Usually, health organizations lament the sugar-loaded, artery-clogging junk food that’s served in schools and blast administrators and lackadaisical parents for their part in fattening up and sickening our nation’s kids.

But, now, for the second year in a row, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), one of the most vocal junk-food-in-the-schools opponents, is taking a more pro-active approach.

PCRM now invites people to nominate exemplary, outstanding, health-food-promoting food-service professionals for a Golden Carrot Award. (Deadline is August 15, 2005.)

nyAwards are granted to "programs that feature low-fat meals; encourage kids to eat lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains; provide vegetarian or vegan menu items; promote cultural diversity; offer nondairy alternatives; and foster community relationships."

(FYI, in case you’re wondering why the award is being given for serving vegetarian foods, PCRM — a non-profit group that conducts medical research and promotes preventive medicine through innovative programs — promotes a meatless lifestyle.)

The grand prize winner will get $1,000, plus a $2,500 check for her or his school district. Winners in each category also will receive $500.

To nominate your favorite school lunch innovator (by Aug. 15), contact Kim Seidl, R.D. at kseidl@pcrm.org; call 202-686-2210, x 338; or download the nomination form (PDF).

Let’s hope that the Golden Carrot Award will encourage other school officials to do their part to kick junk food out of the schools and give kids more healthful food choices.

3 thoughts on “Nominate School Food-Service Professionals for “Golden Carrot Award””

  1. This is wonderful!!! I hope the food service in our school becomes better. We’ve made lots of suggestions. I will mention to the manager of the food service co. that I’d like to nominate them for the award, IF they follow through on some suggestions. One that I pushed for is not offering children snacks after lunch is served.

  2. No way I can nominate ANYONE near me. It is pathetic how unhealthy school food here is and vegetarianism isn’t in the vocabulary of any school dietitian’s vocabulary here either, or any of the eting establishments here either, for that manner. I’ve never seen such unhealthy foods as I have since I moved to this area.

Comments are closed.