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Plant-based and non-dairy food and drink options should be made available to children eating in U.S. school cafeterias, the majority of Americans believe. This is the finding of a poll conducted earlier this month by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM)/Morning Consult. The researchers found that 67 percent of U.S. adults believe students should have access to plant-based meals and nondairy beverages, such as soy milk, when eating at school. The survey of 2,203 adults found that younger respondents were especially supportive of expanding the availability of such options. A student eating a plant-based meal for his lunch at school. “As schools across the nation celebrate National School Lunch Week, we need to raise awareness that most Americans think that school lunch lines should include healthier options including plant-based meals and nondairy milk alternatives that can help keep students healthy,” said nutritionist Stephanie McBurnett—an educator for PCRM and a parent of school-age children—in a statement. McBurnett noted that plant-based meals, which are typically higher in fiber and lower in fat than standard school lunches, can help children “fight obesity, type 2 diabetes and even early signs of heart disease” while encouraging healthier eating habits at an early age. A PCRM case study at a K-8 school in Washington, D.C., found that plant-based meals contained three times more fiber than standard offerings and had less fat and saturated fat; zero cholesterol; and more essential nutrients such as iron, calcium and vitamins A and C. Menu items included dishes like ‘Powered Up Pasta’ and ‘Veg Out Chili’—meals centered on beans and lentils, which the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee recently recommended emphasizing in its upcoming update to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. These findings come amid growing concern about children’s health. About 20 percent of U.S. youths—roughly 14.7 million children and adolescents—are affected by obesity, putting them at increased risk for type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. McBurnett told Newsweek that fruits, vegetables, grains, beans and fortified nondairy milks can provide all of the key nutrients that children need. “Beans, soy products, vegetables like broccoli, nuts and seeds are all great sources of protein,” she explained. “Plant-based eaters generally meet the recommended dietary allowance for protein unless they consume insufficient calories or too many calories from foods high in fat and added sugar.” To expand access to healthier meals, PCRM backs legislative efforts like the Healthy Future Students and Earth Pilot Program Act, introduced in the 118th Congress by Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-N.Y.). The bill would fund schools to offer plant-based meals and make nondairy milk alternatives more widely available. Currently, federal law only guarantees a cow’s milk substitute—such as fortified soy milk—if a parent submits a physician’s note documenting a disability. Schools cannot proactively offer soy milk, a restriction that advocates say creates unnecessary barriers and disproportionately affects families of color, who experience higher rates of lactose intolerance. The poll also found widespread misunderstanding about how common lactose intolerance is. Only 13 percent of respondents correctly identified that 30 to 50 million Americans are lactose intolerant. Rates vary significantly across communities, affecting up to 95 percent of Asian Americans, 60 to 80 percent of African Americans and Ashkenazi Jews, 80 to 100 percent of American Indians, and 50 to 80 percent of Hispanics. Experts say fortified soy milk offers a nutritionally equivalent alternative to dairy milk. Both the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognize soy milk as a safe, evidence-based option for children with lactose intolerance or dairy sensitivities. McBurnett said one of the biggest challenges schools are facing is the misconception that plant-based meals are more expensive. She pointed to research from the PRCM that showed eating a plant-based diet is more cost effective than one that includes animal products. McBurnett also said parents can urge Congress to back the Healthy Future Students and Earth Pilot Program Act, which would make it easier for schools to offer plant-based meals by funding staff training and extra food costs, and by removing federal barriers to providing nondairy milk options. “Parents can also provide their kids’ schools our National School Lunch Program-approved plant-based recipes (healthyschoollunches.org), which meet National School Lunch Program requirements,” she added. Do you have a tip on a health story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about n...
