|
CA Expands Access for Plant-Based School Meals
California approved a new state budget that includes major wins for expanding plant-based meals and non-dairy milk in schools. The budget allocated $500 million for the Kitchen Infrastructure and Training (KIT) Program that can be used to train cafeteria staff, upgrade kitchens, expand scratch cooking, and procure healthier foods and beverages (including plant-based!). This momentous funding helps remove many of the barriers that school districts face when wanting to serve more nutritious, Earth-friendly, and culturally diverse meals in the cafeteria.
Healthy Kids, Happy Planet! was proud to sign a coalition letter along with 120+ school districts, health professionals, anti-hunger groups, environmental organizations, students, parents, and other advocates urging lawmakers to include funding in this budget for serving non-dairy milk on the lunch line. Following federal legislation (Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act) earlier this year, this funding is crucial for districts to overcome the financial burden.
Thank you to Governor Newsom and the California legislature for passing this budget, and to all of the other groups who helped advocate for this vote towards healthier school meals!
| 
