8th-graders agree with Vail-area Rep. Polis: Pizza is not a vegetable

By Troy Hooper
The Colorado IndependentMay 16, 2012
LOUISVILLE — In a bustling lunchroom here Monday, when students were asked to raise their hand if they believed pizza was a vegetable, no one did. Yet when the U.S. House and Senate were essentially asked that same question last fall, their answers weren't as smart as the eighth-graders'.

And we're not talking about a veggie lover's slice either. Under existing federal child nutrition law, even a couple of tablespoons of tomato paste on a pizza is enough to qualify it as a vegetable. Never mind that scientists classify tomatoes as fruits, even if cooks consider them vegetables.

“Congress said that eating pizza is the same as eating green beans or peas or broccoli,” U.S. Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo., told the students. “While most of us know that sounds crazy, Congress apparently doesn't.” Polis represents the Vail Valley in Colorado's 2nd Congressional District.

An eighth-grader at Louisville Middle School enjoys a slice of cheese pizza before listening to U.S. Rep. Jared Polis speak Monday. (Photo by Troy Hooper)

Just after the teens finished eating — what else? — cheese pizza, a vegetable salad, grapefruit slices and whole strawberries, Polis used the Louisville Middle School lunchroom as the backdrop for the introduction of a new bill, the School Lunch Improvements for Children's Education (SLICE) Act.

The legislation would close the loophole that allows a pizza without vegetables to be counted as a serving of vegetables in federally subsidized lunches eaten by almost 32 million U.S. school children.

Two years ago, Congress passed a child nutrition law that called on schools to improve the nutritional quality of lunches they serve but then lobbyists for frozen pizza sellers like ConAgra Foods Inc. and Schwan Food Co. started hanging around the Capitol and the next thing you know pizza was classified as a vegetable. Lobbyists for french fry makers like the one that supplies McDonald's Corp. also succeeded in preventing limits on how many starchy vegetables, like potatoes, are served.

There is an epidemic of childhood obesity across the nation and around the world. Experts estimate one in five children between the ages of 6 and 17 are overweight in the United States.

“We all eat pizza. I eat pizza. I enjoy pizza,” Polis said, calling a slice of pie “a good snack from time to time” that “can be part of a healthy diet” so long as all of its carbohydrates, calories and saturated fat are balanced out by exercise and overall healthy eating. While “pizza can be a lot of things to a lot of people,” he stressed that one thing it certainly is not is a vegetable.

In addition to setting higher standards for when tomato paste and puree counts as a vegetable, the SLICE Act (pdf) seeks to implement sodium-reduction targets and a whole grain requirement.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture spends $18 billion a year on its student lunch program.


comments: 30 Comments on "8th-graders agree with Vail-area Rep. Polis: Pizza is not a vegetable"

CallumWeston – July 19, 2021, at 2:13 p.m.

Glad to read about this strange survey. And yes pizza is not vegetable rather it is one of the amazing dish to eat. And everone can check this https://www.bestessaytips.com/review_essay.php site to finish his college work on time. I appreciate the students for their participation in this discussion. More power to them for their further discussions.

Elizabeth – Sept. 08, 2022, at 4:17 a.m.

I’ve been surfing online more than three hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me. In my opinion, if all webmasters and bloggers made good content as you did, the web will be a lot more useful than ever before. Boots learning

Elizabeth – Sept. 08, 2022, at 4:21 a.m.

Thanks for posting this info. I just want to let you know that I just check out your site and I find it very interesting and informative. I can't wait to read lots of your posts. Survey

weejay – Jan. 04, 2023, at 8:47 a.m.

Using skyline emulator, you can play 100’s of Nintendo Switch game. This emulator is in development from a long time and finally it has been stable and ready to download.

weejay – Jan. 04, 2023, at 8:50 a.m.

Developed by Ice Bear, krnl is one of the best and reliable Roblox exploits used to get an advantage by using exploiting the vulnerabilities of the script. When it comes to script performance, Krnl is a pretty stable exploit that rarely crashed during the gameplay.

weejay – Jan. 04, 2023, at 8:50 a.m.

tinytaskis the greatest Roblox and Minecraft Autoclicker. It’s also useful for everyday tasks.

weejay – Jan. 04, 2023, at 8:51 a.m.

macrogamer is a program that provides ardent gamers with the tools they need to become more effective and successful in the games they play.

weejay – Jan. 04, 2023, at 8:52 a.m.

An Android App called https://www.ffh4x.co/ Mod Menu, which is a modified version of Garena Free Fire, is attracting a lot of interest from the Free Fire gaming community

weejay – Jan. 04, 2023, at 8:53 a.m.

An Android App called ffh4x Mod Menu, which is a modified version of Garena Free Fire, is attracting a lot of interest from the Free Fire gaming community.

weejay – Jan. 22, 2023, at 11:15 p.m.

balenaetcher
promises to flawlessly burn operating system images to SD cards and portable media in just three steps.

weejay – Jan. 22, 2023, at 11:17 p.m.

thaumcraft is Azanor’s remake of the Thaumcraft 5 mod.

weejay – Jan. 22, 2023, at 11:17 p.m.

aniyomi gives you free anime books, and also allows you to read without ads.

weejay – Jan. 22, 2023, at 11:18 p.m.

saikou is an Android AniList-only client that allows you to efficiently download and stream anime and manga.

john112211 – Feb. 04, 2023, at 7:52 a.m.

I was just looking for this info for some time. After six hours of continuous Googleing, at last I got it in your site. I wonder what is the lack of Google strategy that don’t rank this type of informative web sites in top of the list. Normally the top websites are full of garbage. casino oyunları nasıl oynanır

john112211 – Feb. 04, 2023, at 11:17 a.m.

maintaining a healthy weight can be tricky because it revolves around genetics and some other factors* Bespoke Dress Shirts

Oldle1992 – Feb. 09, 2023, at 7:20 a.m.

When Congresswoman Jared Polis (D-Colo.) made national headlines for his culinary testimony against pizza on a government panel, many people agreed with him. Here you check this pavers adelaide and get more new things for concrete cutting. That includes 8th-graders from Woodland Park, Colo., who say that pizza is not a vegetable.

Hester – March 08, 2023, at 2:06 a.m.

Recently, Vail-area Representative Polis sparked controversy by claiming that pizza should not be considered a vegetable in school lunches. The statement received support from unlikely sources, including a group of eighth-graders. I say you can get 에볼루션카지노 notes and learn more information about the online game. The students agreed that pizza, while delicious, should not be classified as a vegetable. They argued that the tomato sauce on the pizza was not enough to meet the nutritional needs of growing children. Instead, they suggested adding more fresh vegetables to school lunches to promote healthy eating habits. The students' comments highlight the importance of promoting healthy eating habits among children and ensuring that they have access to nutritious meals at school.

Margret – March 11, 2023, at 6:22 p.m.

An embroidery is an art form that has been around for centuries and involves the decorative stitching of fabric and other materials to create a design. From the intricate stitching of florals to the bold graphics of logos, embroidery is perfect for adding a creative touch to any garment, accessory, or home décor piece. https://grandmaembroidery.com/

Jared – June 10, 2023, at 6:29 a.m.

The total cost can vary significantly based on the specific vehicle and the importing country's regulations. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFJdSyXp8Y8

Aspire – July 07, 2023, at 9:30 a.m.

Aspire Bedding is having bedsheets online sale, with discounts of up to 50% off. This is an excellent opportunity to stock up on new bedsheets for your home. Visit Aspire Bedding's website today to take advantage of this sale.

alice – July 09, 2023, at 2:21 p.m.

I genuinely like your tackle the problem. I now have a clean idea on what this be counted is all about.. slot5000

Mannat Clothing – July 10, 2023, at 3:58 a.m.

Mannat Clothing has launched its new arrival collection. This collection contains the latest dress design for women and girls. Whether you are looking for a new dress for a special occasion or want to update your wardrobe, Mannat Clothing has something for everyone. Be sure to check out the new arrivals today!

Bagerz – July 10, 2023, at 6:05 a.m.

Looking for fashionable bags for girls and women? Look no further than Bagerz! Our extensive range of ladies bags includes trendy options for every occasion.

Qhaaf – July 10, 2023, at 9:38 a.m.

Qhaaf Bedding is a popular online store in Pakistan that offers a diverse selection of bedding products at affordable rates, such as their exclusive bridal bed sheet sets. Their highly competitive prices allow customers to find an ideal bridal bed sheet set with price in Pakistan that meets their financial constraints. These sets are offered in various sizes and designs, adding an elegant touch to any bedroom aesthetic.

Panache – July 12, 2023, at 7:45 a.m.

Discover the elegance and sophistication of Panache Apparel's women clothing Pakistan, where fashion meets tradition, offering a captivating blend of style and cultural richness.

muraad109 – July 26, 2023, at 1:32 a.m.

You know your projects stand out of the herd. There is something special about them. It seems to me all of them are really brilliant! VOG aanvragen

SMM Panel One – Aug. 16, 2023, at 3:05 p.m.

Welcome to SMM Panel One, the one-stop solution for all your social media marketing needs. With our cutting-edge SMM Panel, you can effortlessly elevate your online presence and reach new heights of success. From increasing followers, likes, and engagement to managing multiple platforms in one place, our user-friendly interface empowers you to stay ahead of the competition. Maximize your brand's impact and visibility with our comprehensive suite of services and analytics. Join SMM Panel One today and witness the power of social media marketing at its finest.

as – Oct. 02, 2023, at 2:34 a.m.

I always read and looked for the latest trending news and wished for a video camera that fits in my pocket easily and is just as powerful. cameraguidepro

as – Oct. 02, 2023, at 2:36 a.m.

Our vision is to empower users with the knowledge and tools needed to tackle any sanding project with confidence aboutsanders

as – Oct. 02, 2023, at 2:37 a.m.

Our vision is to empower users with the knowledge and tools needed to tackle any sanding project with confidence aboutsanders

COMMENT
Comment Form Info  Comment Information
Real Aspen encourages you to post comments on our articles and blogs. Logged in email is required for monitoring purposes. Your email will not be published and will not be distributed to any third-party. Abusive, obscene, profane, threatening, libelous or defamatory comments are prohibited. By posting a comment, you agree to this policy and our terms of use. To report an abusive posting, please contact us.

To make a comment, please log in or create an account. This helps us prevent spam and other malicious attacks.

Please log in to comment

 

Create a user account to comment

Snow Report

  24hr snow mid dpth snow cond.
A-Basin n/a n/a
Aspen n/a n/a closed
BC n/a n/a closed
Breckenridge n/a n/a closed
Buttermilk n/a n/a closed
Copper n/a n/a closed
Crest. Butte n/a n/a closed
Eldora n/a n/a closed
Heavenly n/a n/a closed
Highlands n/a n/a
Howelsen n/a n/a closed
Keystone n/a n/a closed
Kirkwood n/a n/a closed
Loveland n/a n/a
Monarch n/a n/a closed
Northstar n/a n/a closed
Powderhorn n/a n/a closed
Purgatory n/a n/a closed
Silverton n/a n/a closed
Ski Cooper n/a n/a closed
Ski Granby n/a n/a closed
Snowmass n/a n/a closed
Steamboat n/a n/a closed
Sunlight n/a n/a closed
Telluride n/a n/a closed
Vail n/a n/a closed
WinterPark n/a n/a closed
Wolf Creek n/a n/a closed
More Weather Reports
VIDEO GALLERY
Vail powder day snow snake
Airing it out at Crested Butte
Feb. 17, 2011 Surprise 14 inches of Fresh Powder