Purpose of the Bill

This legislation requires all public schools in Minnesota, including charter schools, to offer plant-based meal options daily to students participating in the National School Lunch Program. It aims to ensure that students have access to non-animal product meals upon request.

Main Provisions

• Definition of Plant-Based Meal Options: These meals do not contain any animal products, such as meat, poultry, fish, dairy, or eggs. Instead, they include plant-derived foods like fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, and other approved plant-based products.
• Implementation Timeline: Starting from the 2026-2027 school year, schools must offer at least one daily plant-based meal option during lunch.
• Request Requirement: Students must submit a written request for plant-based meal options. Schools must fulfill these requests within four weeks.
• Information Access: Schools need to inform students, parents, and guardians about the availability of plant-based meal options and how to request them.
• Nutritional Compliance: All plant-based meals must meet federal nutrition guidelines to ensure they are balanced and nutritionally adequate.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• The bill proposes a new legal requirement mandating all public schools to include plant-based options in their meal programs.
• Schools will need to report annually on the implementation, detailing the number of plant-based meals offered and requests received and fulfilled. They must also address any challenges encountered.

Implementation

• The Department of Education is responsible for developing guidelines to help schools comply with this new requirement. This includes providing resources, training for nutrition teams, and strategies for managing meal requests efficiently.
• The Department will also monitor schools for compliance and take necessary actions if schools do not meet requirements.

Reporting

• Each school must annually report to the Department of Education about the plant-based meal options, request statistics, and any challenges in offering these meals.

Relevant Terms

plant-based meal options, animal products, National School Lunch Program, public schools, charter schools, Department of Education, federal nutrition guidelines, request process.