[CH] Hope for Civilization
John Benz Fentner, Jr. (jbenz@courant.infi.net)
Thu, 02 Jul 1998 00:58:41 -0400
12:46 PM ET 07/01/98
Move over brussels sprouts, here comes salsa
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Parents who constantly harp on their kids to
``eat your vegetables,'' may soon be saying, ``eat your salsa.''
The U.S. Agriculture Department recently decided to count commercial
salsa as a vegetable in the school lunch program, which feeds 26 million
kids a day.
Government officials said the decision came after schools in the
Southwest and West requested the policy change and was part of their
efforts to make school lunches more appetizing for kids without
compromising nutrition.
``They like to dip,'' USDA spokeswoman Johanna Ramos said.
The decision has made some reminisce about efforts during President
Reagan's administration to classify ketchup as a vegetable in order to
save money since that condiment often costs less than many vegetables.
Those efforts failed.
``This is totally different,'' Ramos said. ``Salsa is not runny or thin.
We're talking about a vegetable salad.''
Schools have always been able to count salsa as a vegetable if they made
it themselves, but now company-made salsa can be counted. Schools must
serve at least 2 servings of fruit and vegetables per meal in order to
be reimbursed by the government for the school lunch program.
Salsa usually has no fat or cholesterol and is made with fruit and
vegetables.
In order to follow USDA guidelines, the salsa must be made with 100
percent fruit and vegetables without fillers, additives and
preservatives, such as sugar or starch.
^REUTERS@
Now...if they just added Twister (TM) to the Phys Ed Program...
JB
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John Benz Fentner, Jr.
Unionville, Connecticut, USA
http://www.geocities.com/~jbenz/
"Lex Non Favet Delicatorum Votis"
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