Patty Mac ‘n’ Cheese, Jesse Wrap, and Biff Burger are among candidates vying to be named the student’s favorite school lunch during a national campaign to promote healthy meal options.  The non-profit School Nutrition Association (SNA) invites students nationwide to cast their ballot and participate in this year’s ‘Vote for School Lunch’ campaign to learn more about healthy meal choices at school. This year’s candidate review marks the second round of lunchroom elections in the three-year national campaign.  This year’s candidates include Jesse Wrap, Pippa Potato, Patty Mac ‘n’ Cheese, Biff Burger and Yumi Rice.  The candidates are campaigning on their platform of sound dietary values, great taste and lunchroom versatility.  Students can learn more about candidates and cast their vote online at www.VoteForSchoolLunch.org.  

Voting will be open now through National School Lunch Week, October 15-19.  Results of the national election to announce this year’s favorite school lunch will be held on Monday, October 22.  The winner will move on to the next round and compete in the 2008 election against Pete Pizza – the 2006 and first-ever ‘Vote For School Lunch’ campaign winner.  There will also be three student-designed ‘Design a Candidate’ contestants in the 2008 campaign.

The ‘Vote’ campaign and activities will help educate parents and students on the nutritional programs available in schools and reveal the many ways school lunches have evolved. In addition to getting students excited about making healthy choices in the lunchroom, the campaign will relay facts on what balanced school meals consist of today.  SNA’s nationwide membership of 55,000 school nutrition professionals work in schools and in communities to provide balanced, nutritious school meals and information on proper portion sizes and nutrition education for children.

Within the federally funded National School Lunch Program:

• Nationwide, 95% of schools participate and 30 million children are served daily
• Dietary guidelines dictate no more than 30 percent of calories can come from fat and less than 10 percent from saturated fat
• Over the course of one week, lunches must provide 1/3 of the Recommended Dietary Allowances of protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, iron, calcium and calories
• Well-balanced school lunches include protein, fruits and vegetables, grains and low-fat milk and are served in age-appropriate portions

Signed into law by President Harry Truman, the National School Lunch Program provides nutritionally balanced low-cost and free meals to students. Today, healthful options are available in schools nationwide. According to The State of School Nutrition 2007 Report, out of 1,200 school districts surveyed a majority of schools offer fat-free or low-fat milk (97%), fresh fruits and vegetables (96%), salad bars or pre-packaged salads (88%), yogurt and yogurt drinks (81%), from-scratch baked items (63%) and vegetarian meals (52%).

National School Lunch Week was established in 1963 by a proclamation from President John F. Kennedy. It is designed to help raise awareness for the important role that school nutrition programs play in the lives of America’s children. Each year, the School Nutrition Association helps schools celebrate National School Lunch Week with an official theme, suggested menus and recipes, promotional resources, activity sheets, decoration ideas and more.

About School Nutrition Association:

The School Nutrition Association (SNA), www.schoolnutrition.org, is a national, non-profit professional organization representing more than 55,000 members who provide high-quality, low-cost meals to students across the country. The Association and its members are dedicated to feeding children safe and nutritious meals.