Every day, hundreds of Green Hope High School students line up in the cafeteria hoping for a meal that’s both satisfying and nutritious. A lot of times, however, the “meals” that are served fall short of what students hope for. Limited choices, along with dietary restrictions and cultural matters, raise one big question: are school lunches truly accommodating for all students?
Aadi Raut, a vegetarian junior at Green Hope High School, stated that the menu basically goes against his diet and is a daily challenge. He says that although a few meat-free options pop up now and then, they usually lack nutrition and are not very reliable or filling. “Some days they’ll have pizza, which is fine,” Raut said. “But other days, most of the main options have meat. I usually just grab what I can, but it doesn’t always feel super accommodating.”
Across the country, students with different dietary needs–from vegetarian and vegan to halal or allergy-friendly–often find themselves limited to side dishes or snacks. The U.S. Department of Agriculture oversees the National School Lunch Program, which provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches daily. The program operates in nearly 100,000 public and private nonprofit schools. Under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, schools must serve more fruits, vegetables and whole grains, but vegetarian or vegan options are left to local districts…