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PCRM Calling for Nominations for Golden Carrot Awards to Recognize Healthy School Lunch Programs
Grand Prize of $5,000 Will Recognize Outstanding Food Service Professionals and Highlight the Role of Vegetarian Foods and Healthy School Lunches in the Fight Against Childhood Obesity
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,
especially good nutrition. PCRM also conducts clinical research
studies, opposes unethical human experimentation, and promotes
alternatives to animal research.
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Physicians Committee for Responsible
Medicine
5100 Wisconsin Ave., N.W., Ste. 400, Washington, DC 20016
Phone: 202-686-2210 | E-mail: pcrm@pcrm.org |
