School Lunches - Supporting the Dietary Choices of our Young People

Many of our young people elect a vegetarian diet either out of compassion for animals, in alignment with religious practice, or in pursuit of a healthy lifestyle. They often make the decision to stop eating meat independent of the norm for their family or community. Perhaps they have been exposed to films depicting treatment of animals on farms or in slaughterhouses or perhaps they have participated in green education programs supporting sustainable lifestyles. Whatever the reasons for their decision, these young people should have the support for their dietary choices when they reach the school cafeteria.

More than half of all children in the United States consume school lunch provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) National School Lunch Program (NSLP) .  School districts and independent schools voluntarily participate in the NSLP and participants are reimbursed with cash subsidies and receive agricultural commodities and bonus foods for each meal served.

Having USDA oversee the school lunch program reinforces the purchase of meat from confined animal feed operations (CAFOs) with their use of antibiotics and growth hormones and has led parents, health professionals, dieticians, and groups such as the Earth Day Network, Better School Food, and Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine to demand significant change in the governmental structure of the National School Lunch Program, as well as the food it serves.

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) established a program to evaluate meals served in the National School Lunch Program each year. In 2008, PCRM dietitians analyzed elementary school lunches served by 20 school districts and evaluated the districts’ efforts to promote healthful eating habits to students.

The results show that, despite rising food prices, many districts have found cost-effective ways to improve their lunch menus. More and more schools are serving fresh fruit, low-fat vegetable side dishes, and healthful vegetarian entrées on a daily basis. Many schools have also initiated nutrition education programs and other efforts to encourage good eating habits.

The A ratings in the 2008 report card go to:

For the complete list, visit the Healthy School Lunches website.

A recent nationwide survey by the School Nutrition Association shows that almost two thirds of this country’s school lunch programs now offer vegetarian fare on a regular basis.

Let’s applaud the efforts of these progressive school systems to ensure the health of both our children and our planet.