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.  

This report highlights Friends of the Earth’s menu analysis comparing 2019 and 2022 school menu entrées served at the 25 largest school districts across the state. We found that, despite a host of barriers during the coronavirus pandemic, there were remarkable improvements in the frequency, quality and variety of plant-based entrées featured. 

Download full report HERE
Download introduction/executive summary HERE 
Download key policy recommendations HERE
Read Civil Eats article HERE 

Friends of the Earth’s Climate-Friendly School Food Program helps school districts make the shift toward healthy, delicious, plant -forward menus. The program provides technical assistance and marketing materials, supports student and community engagement strategies, and links school districts with the resources they need in order to be successful. Friends of the Earth also partners with school districts and NGOs to advocate for state and federal policy change. For more information or to request support on implementing climate- friendly food strategies, email [email protected] or visit our webpage at www.climatefriendlyschoolfood.org