A new California bill that would encourage K-12 public schools to offer “healthier and climate-friendly” plant-based meals recently passed the Assembly.
The Child Nutrition Act of 2022 (AB 558), cosponsored by The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, opens the doors for better school lunch options that can help instill better eating habits. The meals are also supposed to be better for the environment, making a big difference as hundreds of meals are needed every school day.
Maggie Neola, RD, a dietitian with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine., said, “As the country continues to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring that California’s students have access to healthy plant-based meals that promote overall wellness and help support their immunity is a more urgent need than ever.”
The bill will be moved to the California State Senate for further consideration before being officially enacted.