Today’s guest post comes from Madeline Bennett, MS, the Food System and Nutrition Policy Analyst at Balanced, which is part of the Plant-Based School Lunch Collaborative. She advocates at the federal level for regulatory and legislative initiatives that improve school nutrition for all. Today, she shares how families can access plant-based school meals made available under a new Illinois law.

It’s a new year, and for many students and families, maintaining balanced nutrition is top of mind. When considering how to prioritize kids’ health, school meals might not be the first thing you think of. After all, some of the most popular menu items in the lunchroom tend to be burgers, chicken nuggets, and pizza. However, recently enacted legislation is challenging us all to rethink what school food can and should be.

You might have already heard about HB 4089 (now PA 102-0761), a new law designed to expand food choice for students and families by making plant-based meals available upon request. At first blush, it may sound like the new rule benefits just a handful of students with special diets. But in practice, the law has the potential to be a giant leap forward for child health at large. 

Yes, the law is written to accommodate students with dietary restrictions, but all children stand to gain from menus that include more plant proteins. Consider that nearly all kids are lacking fiber-rich beans, greens, and grains in their diets according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. 

Having daily plant-based options in schools means children will be exposed to a wider array of healthy foods. This in turn encourages kids to build diverse diets that meet not only their protein and calorie needs, but also their needs for fiber and other nutrients found mostly in plants. Not to mention, these long-neglected plant-based foods also present a unique culinary opportunity for districts as they learn to showcase how flavorful plants can be.

Of course, serving exciting, kid-friendly meals made entirely from plants is easier said than done. Between picky eaters and schools’ tight budgets, you may be wondering if it’s even possible! 

Enter the Plant-Based School Lunch Collaborative, or PBSLC. Established by the nonprofit organizations Plant-Based Nutrition Movement and Balanced, PBSLC connects districts with school nutrition experts, as well as heaps of free resources, to help schools serve plant-based and plant-forward meals that are kid- and parent-approved. 

The PBSLC website, plantbasedschoolmeals.com, hosts its many resources specially made for Illinois families and school nutrition operators who want to make the most of the opportunity HB 4089 offers. PBSLC knows families want to learn more about IL 4089 and plant-based eating more broadly, and the Collaborative’s dedicated team can answer all your questions about meeting kids’ nutritional needs, preparing flavorful plant-rich recipes, and how your children can request plant-based meals in their schools.

At the district level, PBSLC provides personalized support, recipes, plant-based product lists, on-site training, and one-on-one consultations—all at no cost. For more information about how the Collaborative can assist you or your district, simply get in touch with the PBSLC team using the contact form on the website.

Now, you may be thinking: Don’t our schools already adhere to strong nutrition standards? Yes, but only in a narrow sense. Although kids are required to take a fruit or a vegetable with their meals, when it comes to the center of the plate, too often many of the foods that meet the federal guidelines are processed, too low in fiber and high in excess sodium and solid fats. 

The majority of plant-based entrees, on the other hand, are naturally high in fiber and lower in added sugars, salt, and saturated fat. Increasing accessibility and frequency of these foods on menus is a great way to round out school food service and diversify kids’ diets. And when children and teens have the chance to choose these options—even if just a few days per week—they reap outsized nutrition and health benefits. This is why making the most of HB 4089 is so critical for all students in Illinois, not just those with unique dietary needs.   

If you’d like to learn more about how PBSLC can enhance and expand plant-based meals in your district, or if you’re curious about our family resources, get in touch at plantbasedschoolmeals.com. You can also find more resources at moreplantsonplatesil.com.