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Promoting Sustainable Food Service Operations
The pilot team found that adding plant-based menu options coupled with behavioral design strategies is a cost- effective, achievable, and high-impact strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Read More
Climate-Friendly Plant-Based Recipes for Schools
Our Climate-Friendly Plant-Based Recipes for Schools resource is a vibrant collection of student-approved recipes from over 25 California K–12 school districts, designed to help school nutrition teams prepare and serve delicious, climate-friendly meals. Read More
A Guide for Food and Nutrition Services to Navigate Requests for Cow’s Milk Substitutes
School food operators may receive two types of requests for a cow’s milk substitute: Disability based requests must be accommodated by operators. Read More
For Parents/Guardians and Students: Your Right to Request a Substitute for Cow’s Milk at School
Parents and guardians have a right to request a substitute for cow’s milk for their child as part of school meals. Read More
Plant-Based & Plant-Forward Menus in K-12 Schools
Students and their families are increasingly asking for plant-based food at school for a wide variety of reasons, including cultural, religious, health, and philosophical reasons. Read More
Six Changes USDA Made to Help Schools Serve More Plant-Based Foods
This fact sheet summarizes these changes and serves as a tool to support schools in implementing the new opportunities. Read More
Plant-Based Trends in California’s School Lunches (2024)
Friends of the Earth’s new report provides a 5-year snapshot comparing 2019 and 2023 school menu entrées served at the 25 largest school districts across the state. Read More
Plant-Based Trends in California’s School Lunches (2023)
As our climate crisis intensifies and more than half of Americans suffer from diet-related disease, California’s school nutrition service staff have heeded the urgent call to make school food healthier and more climate-friendly. Read More
Comments on USDA Meal Patterns
At present, there is more USDA can do to inclusively nourish our children; protect our natural resources; and support a fair and sustainable agricultural economy. Read More
Visually Recognizable Foods Fact Sheet
Current regulations requiring plant-based protein foods to be “visually recognizable” create barriers for school food operators. Read More