Download health organizations support plant

HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORT PLANT-BASED OPTIONS FOR CHILDREN
Numerous scientific studies have shown the
benefits low-fat, high-fiber, plant-based options
for adults and children. The American Heart
Association, the American Diabetes Association,
and the American Institute for Cancer Research
promote plant-based foods for chronic disease
prevention. The American Medical Association
and the American Public Health Association have
called on federal food assistance programs to
emphasize vegetables, fruits, legumes, grains,
and nondairy vegetarian foods.
The following are statements from key health
organizations and experts in support of
increasing the amount of plant-based foods in
children’s diets.
The Public: More than 124,000 individuals from all 50 states
have signed a petition calling on Congress to help schools
provide vegetables, fruits, legumes, grains, vegetarian foods,
and healthful nondairy beverages in school meal programs.
Doctors and Health Care Providers: The Physicians Committee
for Responsible Medicine is a national nonprofit organization
representing 12,000 physician members and more than
150,000 lay members. More than 100 hospitals and health care
providers also support this effort, and more than 200 doctors
have signed letters in support of healthy school meals.
States: California, Florida, Hawaii, and New York have passed
resolutions supporting healthful plant-based options for school
lunches.
Institute of Medicine: In its 2009 report, School Meals: Building Blocks for Healthy Children, the committee
recommends that the USDA adopt standards for menu planning, including:
 Increasing the amount and variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
 Setting a minimum and maximum level of calories
 Focusing more on reducing saturated fat and sodium
http://www.iom.edu/~/media/Files/Report%20Files/2009/School-Meals/School%20Meals%202009%20%20Report%20Brief.pdf:
Accessed October 9, 2014
American Heart Association: AHA Dietary Guidelines: Revision 2000: A Statement for Healthcare Professionals from the
Nutrition Committee of the American Heart Association:
“The AHA strongly endorses the consumption of diets that include a wide variety of fruits and vegetables throughout
the day, both as meals and snacks. Fruits and vegetables are high in nutrients and fiber and relatively low in calories and
hence have a high nutrient density”
http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/102/18/2284.full.pdf+html Accessed October 9, 2014
Position Statement of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the American Dietetic Association)
“It is the position of the American Dietetic Association that appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total
vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and
treatment of certain diseases. Well-planned vegetarian diets are appropriate for individuals during all stages of the
lifecycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence, and for athletes.”
Journal of the American Dietetic Association July 2009;109:1266-82
http://www.eatright.org/About/Content.aspx?id=8357 Accessed October 9, 2014
American Public Health Association Policy Statement
Addressing Obesity and Health Disparities Through Federal Nutrition and Agricultural Policy
The APHA aims to advocate for national policies that address the prevention of obesity and racial and ethnic disparities
in health status by:
1. Increasing access to healthy, culturally acceptable vegetables, fruits, legumes, grains, vegetarian foods, and
healthful nondairy beverages in school lunches and food assistance programs.
2. Urging Congress to shift federal subsidies support to products low in fat, cholesterol, sodium, and sugar.
3. Urging the federal government to change laws, specifically those governing the U.S. Department of Agriculture,
that promote agricultural interests over the interests of nutrition.
Policy Number: 20072; http://www.apha.org/policies-and-advocacy/public-health-policy-statements/policy-database/2014/07/24/15/56/addressingobesity-and-health-disparities-through-federal-nutrition-and-agricultural-policy: Accessed October 9, 2014
American Medical Association — H-150.944 Combating Obesity and Health Disparities
The AMA supports efforts to:
1. Reduce health disparities by basing food assistance programs on the health needs of their constituents;
2. Provide vegetables, fruits, legumes, grains, vegetarian foods, and healthful nondairy beverages in school
lunches and food assistance programs; and
3. Ensure that federal subsidies encourage the consumption of products low in fat and cholesterol.
Res. 413, A-07
https://ssl3.ama-assn.org/apps/ecomm/PolicyFinderForm.pl?site=www.amaassn.org&uri=%2fresources%2fhtml%2fPolicyFinder%2fpolicyfiles%2fHnE%2fH-150.944.HTM
Accessed October 9, 2014
American Cancer Society –The American Cancer Society Guidelines on Nutrition and Physical Activity for Cancer
Prevention recommends:
1. Eat a healthy diet, with an emphasis on plant foods and limit how much processed meat and red meat you eat
2. Eat at least 2 ½ cups of vegetables and fruits each day
3. Choose whole-grain breads, pasta, and cereals (such as barely and oats) instead of breads, cereals, and pasta
made from refined grains, and brown rice instead of white rice
4. Choose vegetables, whole fruits, and other low-calorie foods instead of calorie-dense foods such as French
fries, potato and other chips, ice cream, donuts, and other sweets
http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/cid/documents/webcontent/002577-pdf.pdf Accessed October 15, 2014
For more information, go to www.HealthySchoolLunches.org.