It is not only cities, regions and NGOs in Europe that strive for more sustainable and health school meals. The organization Friends of the Earth runs the ‘Climate-Friendly School Food Program’ to help school districts in California shift toward healthier, delicious, plant based menus. The program provides technical assistance and marketing materials, supports student and community engagement strategies, and links school districts with the resources they need to be successful. Friends of the Earth also partners with school districts and NGOs to advocate for state and federal policy change.
A new report from Friends of the Earth, Plant-Based Trends in California’s School Lunches, finds remarkable improvements on school menus in the state’s largest 25 school districts. Last year, they reduced their climate and water footprint by featuring 100+ plant-based lunch entrees in 1 month, adding 40+ new tasty, culturally diverse, plant-based options, such as chana masala bowls, vegan tamales, tofu ramen and veggie falafel wraps.
The new analysis from Friends of the Earth found that availability of healthy, plant-based lunches increased up to 60% from just 7% of menu options in 2019 to 11% in 2023.
High schools and middle schools are leading the way, with more than half of schools (56%) offering plant-based menu options each day in 2023 compared to 36% of schools in 2019. The number of elementary schools offering plant-based weekly options increased more than threefold, from 16% of districts in 2019 to 60% in 2023. The report also found a significant reduction in highly processed meats and cheese-heavy entrees since 2022.
“It’s remarkable to see the progress we’ve made from the days when a peanut butter and jelly sandwich was the only plant-based option. […] Today’s generation of students recognize the climate and health benefits of plant-based food, and California’s school districts are stepping up to meet the demand.”
- Nora Stewart, Climate-Friendly Food Senior Program Manager at Friends of the Earth.
“Plant-based options we serve like black bean burgers and Southwest black bean and corn salad are hugely popular with students. […] We continue to increase those options, including this year’s plant-based nuggets, sweet Thai chili stir fry and tofu adobo. It’s heart warming to see the students enjoy these healthy, environmentally friendly meals.”
- Jennifer Lebarre, Director of Nutrition Services for San Francisco Unified School District.
The report attributes the rise in plant-based offerings to the significant policy and financial support provided by the state for healthy and scratch cooked meals as well as the availability of technical assistance from several non-profits, including Friends of the Earth.
Despite these gains, a quarter of all districts still do not offer plant-based entrées and another quarter only offer nut butter and jelly as a plant-based option. This leaves many students without access to adequate nutritious, plant-based school meals. While supportive state policies have helped many California schools with healthier menus, the report points to additional policy changes needed at the federal level, particularly adding more plant-based protein options in the United States Department of Agriculture’s Foods program.
“It is important for the students to feel valued, welcomed and excited about the meals we prepare and serve. Many students in our district have vegetarian or meatless diets, while other students prefer vegetarian meals for religious or other familiar customs, so incorporating plant-powered menu items into our cycle makes sense. [..] As a Registered Dietitian and a School Nutrition Specialist, I use new vegetarian or vegan options to introduce the concept of plant-powered eating and promote healthy school meals. Introducing and promoting the fantastic benefits plants educates and encourages students to incorporate more vegetables including legumes, nuts and seeds into their healthy meals.“
- Lisa Vorce, Twin Rivers Unified School District.
Different continents, but the experiences are the same. When students are included and offered tasty, healthy plant-based meals, it is much appreciated. Just like the ambitions in SchoolFood4Change.
Download the full report here.