Polis' Plant-Based Healthy School Meals Act, Other Innovative Measures, Added to House Child Nutrition Reauthorization

Press Release

During a House Education and Labor Committee Markup, today Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) successfully amended child nutrition reauthorization legislation (H.R. 5504, the Improving Nutrition for America's Children Act) to include a $1 million pilot program to introduce plant-based options in school meal programs, based on his bill, H.R. 4780, the Healthy School Meals Act.

"While Superintendent and Chairman of the Colorado State Board of Education, I saw first-hand how the lack of nutritious food prevents too many kids from reaching their full potential, both academically and physically," said Polis. "If we are to be successful in curbing the childhood obesity epidemic, we need to offer students the healthiest options available, such as plant-based vegetarian options that are cholesterol free, generally low in fat and saturated fat, lower in calories, and higher in fiber."

Within the money already authorized by the bill, Polis' amendment reserves $1 million for a two-year Healthy School Meals Pilot program to introduce the use of plant-based alternate protein products in the school breakfast and lunch programs, at no cost to the school food authorities, and determine which products children like the most and are the easiest to prepare.

Other Polis provisions included in the child nutrition reauthorization would strengthen school districts' wellness policies; improve nutrition education in classrooms; establish professional standards and training requirements for school food service personnel; and enable states to tackle childhood hunger through innovative strategies and public/private partnerships.

"Making sure that our children get a world-class education has always been one of my top goals in Congress and in Colorado, and that simply cannot be accomplished if our children don't get the proper nutrition to make it through the day," said Polis. "By improving nutrition education and increasing access to school meal programs, my bills help parents and schools fight childhood obesity and give our kids a strong and healthy start to life. I'm thrilled that these initiatives have been included in this comprehensive bill that will ensure that all kids have a healthier future."

Congressman Polis is a former Chair of the Colorado State Board of Education and a current member of the House Education and Labor Committee subcommittees on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education; Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness; and Healthy Families and Communities.

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