Youth from Across the Country Visit Washington DC to Advocate for Plant-based School Food Options
This week, a passionate group of high school and college students took their advocacy for plant-based meals in schools to the heart of the nation’s capital. Members of the Plant Powered Youth Steering Committee (PPYSC) met with their elected representatives and officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to push for expanded access to plant-based meals in K-12 schools. These 14 dedicated youth shared their personal experiences with school lunch programs, highlighting the critical need for more inclusive and sustainable food options.
The PPYSC members, many of whom rely or have relied on free and reduced-price school meals, emphasized the diverse reasons students seek plant-based options, including religious, medical, and philosophical considerations. They pointed out a significant gap in the availability of eco-friendly foods in many schools, particularly those serving underserved communities. By engaging with federal policymakers, the committee hopes to raise awareness about the importance of plant-based meals in addressing food insecurity, improving public health, and combating climate change.
Voices from the Youth Steering Committee
Zenee Theophille, a 21-year-old graduate from Kennesaw State University, expressed her environmental concerns, stating, “I joined the Youth Steering Committee because I believe that plant-based, climate-friendly foods are necessary in K-12 schools. Reducing meat consumption can greatly positively impact the environment. As an environmentalist, I believe the earlier we start teaching kids about eco-friendliness and introducing them to plant-based foods, the more likely they are to help better our environment.”
Aarush Goyal, a 16-year-old junior at Bergen County Academies, shared his personal journey, “Growing up vegetarian and slowly transitioning into veganism, I didn’t always have access to plant-friendly meals in my schools. I am advocating for the implementation of plant-based meals in K-12 schools because I have first-hand experience with the lack of vegan meals in my school, and I want to make a difference so that no one else faces this problem.”
Noah Gonzalez, a 16-year-old junior at Northwest Career and Technical Academy, highlighted the broader benefits of plant-based options, “Being able to meet with our representatives in Washington D.C. is exciting as it gives us the opportunity to advocate for ourselves and others who have been affected by the lack of plant-based meals in schools. I believe that implementing plant-based meals into school menus would benefit a wide variety of students with different beliefs and lifestyles. Additionally, I believe that this switch to more plant-forward school lunch menus would benefit the health of all students, including those who aren’t actively seeking plant-based lunches.”
Guadalupe Gomez, a 20-year-old junior at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, spoke about cultural and environmental alignment, “Through the Youth Steering Committee, I was able to explore ways in which I can stand up for myself, especially when it comes to having access to food that fits my plant-based diet, as well as my culture and the needs of the environment. Not only are we fighting for progress in school lunches, but also for the health of the public and the planet. With this opportunity to travel to D.C. and speak to those who represent us, I hope we can make a change that inspires future students and leads to more accessible plant-based school lunches.”
Emely Hernandez, a 17-year-old rising freshman at California State University, Long Beach, highlighted the importance of accessibility, “Growing up vegetarian, I struggled to access healthy and nutritious food options at my public school. Coming from a predominantly Hispanic and low-income city, this was especially troubling given that many students from my district relied on free school meals to get them through the day. I joined the YSC to make a meaningful difference in the way the public school nutrition services regard the health of students. Healthy meals should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their economic background. I believe that the key to a healthy lifestyle and a greener future is plant-based meals and with the help of the YSC, we are a step closer to that future.”
Morgan Greenlaw, a 19-year-old rising sophomore at New York University, discussed the challenges schools face, “Through my experience campaigning for a daily vegan option in my high school’s cafeteria, I learned about the challenges that schools face when trying to increase plant-based options. Funding, staffing, and infrastructure limitations make it hard for schools under the National School Lunch Program to change the meals they serve, even though many students want more plant-based meals. I knew that I wanted to continue this work on a federal level, which is why I joined the YSC to lobby for increasing plant-based accessibility in US public schools.”
The efforts of these young advocates underscore the urgent need for policy changes to ensure that all students, regardless of their background or dietary needs, have access to nutritious, sustainable, and inclusive meals. Their voices are a testament to the growing demand for plant-based options and the vital role these options play in promoting health and environmental stewardship in schools across the nation.