New York public schools to begin meatless Mondays this fall

by



[ad_1]

Indeed, all public schools in New York will have "meatless Mondays" during the 2019-2020 school year. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio introduced the new meal program on Monday. Meatless Mondays, which will provide students with fully vegetarian lunches and lunches, are being expanded throughout the city with a pilot program piloted this spring in 15 schools.

"Reducing meat a little will improve the health of New Yorkers and reduce greenhouse gas emissions," Blasio said at a news conference. "We are extending meatless Mondays to all public schools so that our lunch and our planet will remain green for generations to come."

De Blasio added that parents could always send their children to school with a lunch containing meat if they wished.

Research consistently demonstrates that herbal diets are associated with a lower risk of obesity, hypertension, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer, said Sharon Palmer, dietician and author. of Plant-Powered for Life.

"Even without meat one day a week can make a difference, because you increase all herbal foods – beans, lentils, whole grains, nuts, seeds, vegetables, fruits – and decrease the number of foods you can eat. 39, animal origin, especially red fruits and vegetables, processed meat, "Palmer told CNN last year. "High intakes in these foods have been associated with an increased risk of disease."

It's not just about health

Supporters also said that reducing global meat consumption was also good for the planet.

A study published in October in the journal Nature revealed that the production of animal products was the source of the majority of greenhouse gas emissions from food sources, up to 39 to 78% of total agricultural emissions.

Reducing the amount of meat the world consumes would therefore reduce the amount of greenhouse gases released around the world.

But not everyone is on board with the idea that kids give meat for a day during the school week. In 2012, the US Department of Agriculture had asked its employees to hold the meatless Monday, but had pushed it back after the National Cattlemen's Beef Association had repressed, accusing the USDA of participating in an "extremist campaign for animal rights aimed at ending the consumption of meat."

School leaders in New York said that this made perfect sense.

"For those who make fun of this notion, I have a simple tip: Look at science," said James Oddo, president of Staten Island's borough. "Look at the data. Look at obesity in children. Look at pre-diabetic diagnoses. Look at the fact that 65% of American children aged 12 to 14 have early signs of cholesterol disease. Then you may understand that we can not keep doing things the same way, including welcoming the idea of ​​meatless Mondays. "

CNN's Lisa Drayer contributed to this report.

[ad_2]

Source link