PBFA Endorses the Healthy Future Students and Earth Act

PBFA is proud to announce its endorsement of The Healthy Future Students and Earth Pilot Program Act, introduced by Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) and Rep. Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D (D-NY). If passed, this bill would create a voluntary grant program for school districts to help schools provide healthier, climate-conscious, and culturally appropriate plant-based entrée options to students.

Currently, very few plant-based entrées are available in public schools because of technical, educational, and financial barriers. Children who require plant-based foods for religious, philosophical, health, or other reasons often have very limited options in their school cafeterias.

Research has consistently shown that plant-based foods can help people maintain a healthy weight, reduce the risk of diabetes, and protect against many forms of cancer and other diseases. Many of these conditions are present in children. For example, obesity now affects 1 in 5 children and adolescents in the United States.

Improving school nutrition is crucial for addressing racial health disparities because students of color disproportionately rely on school meals as a primary source of nutrition. The National Institutes of Health estimates that 60-80% of African Americans and 50-80% of Hispanic people are unable to process lactose found in dairy products and included in many school meals.

Increasing the availability of plant-based entrees in schools can help reduce food-related GHG emissions. Animal-based foods are often more carbon-intensive than plant-based foods, and studies have shown that we cannot meet the Paris Accord targets without a shift to lower carbon foods.

“The Healthy Future Students and Earth Pilot Program Act will invest in the health of our children and help combat climate change by funding plant-based entrées in schools across the country. I’m proud to champion legislation that would deliver food justice for all and build a greener, healthier future for our kids,” says Representative Velázquez.

PBFA endorses The Healthy Future Students and Earth Pilot Program Act and we thank Reps. Velázquez and Bowman for their leadership.