ALEXANDRIA, Va., October 24, 2008 – Student voters from across the country have made their decision, and Pete Pizza is taking the national prize as winner of the Vote for School Lunch 2008 Presidential Election. Celebrated by students from coast to coast during National School Lunch Week, this year’s “Vote for School Lunch” marked the third and final round of lunchroom elections.
Created by the non-profit School Nutrition Association, the “Vote for School Lunch” campaign transformed five healthy school versions of favorite lunches into fun, sporty, life-like candidates. The candidates campaigned on their platform of sound dietary values, great taste and lunchroom versatility. Students have been voting in schools and online at www.VoteForSchoolLunch.org since late August. The candidates were:
Pete Pizza was the top slice in 46 of the 50 states followed by runner-up, Biff Burger, winner of the 2007 primary. Kentucky, Florida and Georgia had a three-way tie for the most number of students to participate in the “Vote for School Lunch” campaign with Tennessee and Texas following right behind as hundreds of thousands of students made their choice. Gloria Grilled cheese was the big winner in Wyoming, Larry Lasagna took the District of Columbia, Nevada and Oregon and Petunia Pita Pocket got a healthy amount of votes in every state.
Campaign activities among the schools that participated in ‘Vote’ included election days complete with media interviews, candidate debates and cafeteria voting booths. The program stretched outside the lunchroom with students participating in red, white and blue election parades, Art classes creating candidate costumes and posters and English classes competing in essay contests where students could invent a Cafeteria Bill of Rights and/or Cafeteria Constitution.
In addition to helping students learn about the nutritious food choices available at school, the ‘Vote’ campaign tied in with the 2008 Presidential election. Students became familiar with the voting process with their own election to follow, campaign for and cast their ballot in.
National School Lunch Week was established in 1963 by a proclamation from President John F. Kennedy. It is designed to help raise awareness for the important role that school nutrition programs play in the lives of America’s children. Each year, the School Nutrition Association (SNA) helps schools celebrate NSLW with an official theme, suggested menus and recipes, promotional resources, activity sheets, decoration ideas and more. SNA's National School Lunch Week promotions are made possible in partnership with MilkPEP and Land O'Lakes School Foodservice.
About School Nutrition Association:
The School Nutrition Association (SNA), www.schoolnutrition.org, is a national, non-profit professional organization representing more than 55,000 members who provide high-quality, low-cost meals to students across the country. The Association and its members are dedicated to feeding children safe and nutritious meals. Founded in 1946, SNA is the only association devoted exclusively to protecting and enhancing children’s health and well being through school meals and sound nutrition education.
www.VoteForSchoolLunch.org Learn more about the winner and the election
National School Lunch Week Member site with full vote results
School Meals Proven a Healthy Choice More on healthy school lunches