Federation of Jain Associations of North America Partner with Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine

1. “Healthy School Meals Act of 2010” H.R. 4870 Vegetarian Options in the National School Lunch Program Federation of Jain Associations of North America Partner with Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine

2. Intro to Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine • Preventive medicine • Clinical research studies • Research ethics • Subsidiaries: The Washington Center for Clinical Research The Cancer Project 5100 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 400 Washington, DC 20016

3. Purpose of the Healthy School Meals Act (H.R. 4870) • Improve the health of America’s school children by raising the nutritional quality of food through the promotion of plant-based meals and healthy dairy alternative beverages in schools. • Assist schools in serving more healthy meals • Lower in total fat and saturated fat • Cholesterol free • Higher in fiber

4. What will the legislation do? • Introduce plant-based foods to schools through a pilot program • Increase the availability and affordability of plant-based foods • Provide incentives for schools to provide daily plant-based options • Remove restrictions on providing non-dairy milk alternatives with school lunches

5. Key Provisions Pilot Program:Directs USDA to conduct a pilot program to provide school districts with plant-based alternate protein products and non-dairy milk substitutes to determine which products students like best and are easy to prepare. More Plant-Based Commodities:Based on the pilot’s evaluation, the USDA will include identified plant-based alternate protein products and non-dairy milk substitutes in its commodities purchase program, thus reducing their costs for school districts. Incentives for Schools to Offer Healthy Plant-Based Meals:School districts that provide at least two-thirds of the students with a plant-based entrée option on their daily lunch menus will receive supplemental commodity assistance. Increased Availability of Milk Alternatives:Schools will offer students who cannot or do not want to drink milk a healthy substitute that meets nutritional standards established by USDA for protein, calcium, vitamin D, and other key nutrients.

6. Health Advantages of Plant-based Meals • Weight control • Heart health • Cancer risk reduction • Diabetes prevention and control • Begin to correct a child’s poor nutrition statistics

7. Who Supports Healthy School Meals? • States who have passed resolutions for healthful plant-based options for school lunches • California • New York • Florida • Hawaii • The Public • More than 125,000 individuals from all 50 states have signed a petition of support • Doctors and Health Care Providers • More than 100 hospitals and health care providers have signed on supporting this effort • More than 200 doctors have signed letters of support • Healthy organizations who support plant-based diets for children • Iowa (pending) • Georgia (pending) • Ohio (pending)

8. How can you help? • Participate in our Citizen Call-In Lobby Day on April 21th • Write or email your Representative (including Rep. Miller) to ask them to support H.R. 4870—The Healthy School Meals Act of 2010 • Meet with your Representative • Enlist the support of other organizations • Talk to your local school food service director, PTA or principals about offering more plant-based options • Write letters to the editor about the need for healthful vegetarian foods in the school lunch program • Go to www.healthyschoollunches.orgto sign our petition and for more information on getting involved.

9. www.HealthySchoolLunches.orgwww.PCRM.org

10. JAINA Live & Let Live