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Illinois’ Vegetarian School Lunch Program Is Thriving At Logan Square School
A Year of Offering Plant-Based Meals
Illinois passed a first-of-its-kind law in 2022 guaranteeing students the right to plant-based school lunches if requested. Advocates and state leaders gathered last week to celebrate one year of the program, which began in August 2023 and has seen over 1,000 parents opting their students in for plant-based school lunches across 278 school districts.
Chase Elementary Leading the Way
Chase Elementary, 2021 N. Point St., has the highest concentration of students out of any Illinois school who have opted in to the plant-based lunch program, officials said at the news conference last week.
Parent Demand for Plant-Based Meals
Meryl Fury, president and CEO of nonprofit Plant-Based Nutrition Movement, works with schools across the Midwest to teach kids the benefits of vegetarian meals. After the law was passed, her group teamed up with Balanced, another nonprofit focused on improving access to nutritional plant-based meals in institutions, to create More Plants on Plates, a streamlined way for Illinois parents to sign up their kids for plant-based meals at their schools. Teens can sign up on their own.
Sign-ups at Chase Elementary
Since the start of this school year, Chase has seen close to 20 signups via More Plants on Plates, a high concentration at one school compared to others in the state that have seen two or three students sign up this year, Fury said.
Benefits for Schools and Students
The good news is that with the schools that have switched completely to plant-based lunches, and there are a few, they see a huge drop in waste, increase in participation and decrease in cost, because a quarter-cup of lentils is way cheaper than a hamburger, Fury said.
Growth and Awareness
More schools are also opting in to offer plant-based meals as education, awareness and demand grows, which is the goal, Fury said.
Meryl Fury, President and CEO of Plant-Based Nutrition Movement, and her colleague, work with children in Midwest schools to promote healthy plant-based meals and education.
Convincing Kids to Try New Foods
Fury has seen children go from hating broccoli and spices to eating more green and diverse foods with delight, she said.
When we’re able to spend time with them and introduce them to these foods, first of all, they’re blown away, she said. At first, it’s very defensive, but after being exposed and you see your friends eating it, and they’re doing OK, they haven’t dropped over dead yet, the other kids give it a try. It’s like this positive peer pressure.
Cultural Relevance of Plant-Based Meals
Some schools have seen the law also open the door for them to offer more culturally relevant meals with the help of Plant-Based Nutrition Movement, she said.
State Senator’s Support
State Sen. Natalie Toro, whose 20th district includes Logan Square, said she is proud to see the program’s success at Chase. As a former teacher at Goethe Elementary in Logan Square, she saw how healthier meals can positively affect students in school, she said.
I’m so happy that [Chase] is giving this option to their students. It means so much to me as a legislator who has seen this happen in my district, but also as an undergrad teacher for over 10 years, Toro said. I can say firsthand: When students are offered healthy options, it makes such a big difference in the way they’re able to stay focused, engaged and have improved behavior.
Benefits for Underserved Communities
Fury and Toro said having this program available in schools can be particularly beneficial to Black and Brown families in Chicago, as they are more likely than white families to experience chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.
Get Involved
Parents who would like their child’s school to offer plant-based meals for them can sign up via More Plants on Plates’ website.
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FAQs
* What is the More Plants on Plates program?
+ A program that allows Illinois parents to sign up for plant-based meals at their child’s school.
* How many schools in Illinois have opted in to the plant-based lunch program?
+ Over 1,000 parents have opted in across 278 school districts.
* What is the goal of the program?
+ To offer more plant-based meal options to Illinois students and increase access to healthy, nutritious meals.
* Can I sign my child up for the program?
+ Yes, parents can sign up for the program via More Plants on Plates’ website.
* What does the program cost?
+ The program is free for participating schools, as plant-based meals are often cheaper than traditional meals.