Grand Prize of $5,000 Will Recognize Outstanding Food Service Professionals and Highlight the Role of Vegetarian Foods and Healthy School Lunches in t

WASHINGTON—The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) is seeking nominations for its third annual Golden Carrot Awards for outstanding school food service professionals. The grand prize winner will receive $1,500 and a $3,500 check made out to her or his school or school district. Up to four additional awards will be given, with $500 going to the food service professional and $500 to benefit the school food service program.

“We want to recognize schools tackling the link between childhood obesity and the high-fat, artery-clogging food typically served in the lunchroom,” says PCRM nutritionist Dulcie Ward, R.D. “School lunch programs that serve high fiber, low-fat entrees such as bean burritos or veggie burgers, along with fresh fruit, vegetables and other vegetarian foods will help children reduce their risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and some forms of cancer.”

The Golden Carrot Awards honor food service professionals in both public and private schools. Schools will be evaluated based on how well they provide schoolchildren with a range of healthy vegetarian entrees and non-dairy beverages, incorporate plant-based commodity foods into their menus, promote these healthy choices, and offer nutrition education programs.

Parents, teachers, principals, fellow food service workers, and community members are encouraged to nominate professionals who make a difference in their schools. The deadline for nominations is September 18. An entry form and a more detailed explanation of the award criteria are available at www.HealthySchoolLunches.org.

Last year’s winners included schools in Cincinnati, Santa Barbara, Calif., Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and Montpelier, Vt. One winning food service director was profiled on CBS Sunday Morning.

Winners of this year's contest will be announced in time for National School Lunch Week, October 9-13, 2006.

Founded in 1985, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine is a nonprofit health organization that promotes preventive medicine, conducts clinical research,and encourages higher standards for ethics and effectiveness in research.