Vegetarian options in US schools soar

Almost two thirds of school nutrition programs now offer a vegetarian school lunch on a consistent basis, up from 22% in 2003. The availability of vegetarian school lunches in a majority of districts is consistent with the overall trend in the past five years towards more nutritious school lunches emphasising whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and low-fat dairy. Children are increasingly following vegetarian diets and during 2008 the US Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service received over 10,000 comments calling for the need for increased availability of vegetarian meals in schools. SNA has tracked vegetarian meal choices in schools since 2003 as part of the School Nutrition Operations Report conducted every two years. The series of Reports, based on surveys of 1,200 school nutrition directors nationally, found that the number of schools offering vegetarian meals rose from 22.3% in 2003 to 63.9% in 2009 and increased over 12% since 2007. The 2009 Report also found that 20.5% of school nutrition programs offer vegan meal options (no meat, dairy or animal products). Vegetarian school lunches include entree salads and veggie pizza with whole grain crust as well as beans and rice, chef salads with yogurt and sunflower seeds, cheese stuffed shells, vegetable hoagies (with 2 cheeses, red and green pepper strips, cucumber, lettuce, and tomato) and lentil sauce with pasta. While the 41.6% increase in vegetarian meal options available in schools has been dramatic over the past six years, challenges remain. SNA member school nutrition directors identified cost of vegetarian items as a significant barrier to making these choices available. Currently school nutrition programs receive $2.57 in federal meal reimbursement for each lunch served to students qualifying for free school meals. The average cost to prepare a school lunch during the present school year is estimated by SNA to be $2.92.