Is Pizza a Vegetable? Congress May Say Yes!

It’s no secret that America’s school lunches aren’t the healthiest in the world, but they may be getting a little unhealthier.  New legislation before Congress is attempting to reclassify pizza as a vegetable. How can this type of junk food count towards a child’s five a day? Tomato sauce. Specifically it’s the amount. Instead of requiring a half cup be present to count as a serving of vegetable, only 2 tablespoons would be necessary.
 
This rethinking of pizza is a small part of the bill. Other aspects include a repeal of the limiting of potatoes and other starches in school lunches (French fries, anyone?) and a delay in the requirement to boost whole grains.
 
Supporters of the bill explain it as an attempt to stop Washington from mandating what individual schools serve their children for lunch, but health advocates aren’t convinced it’s a move in the right direction. Center for Science in the Public Interest’s nutrition advocate Margo Wootan is unimpressed, saying that “they are making sure that two of the biggest problems in the school lunch program, pizza and french fries, are untouched.”
 
In a country where childhood obesity is a huge problem, this bill has struck a nerve. Congress is expected to vote on the bill this coming week. It’s certain that many schools and parents will be anxiously watching to see the results.
 
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