Nichols Bill Would Provide Plant-Based School Lunch Alternative

CHICAGO – State Rep. Cyril Nichols, D-Chicago, has introduced legislation that would direct school districts to provide vegetarian or vegan school lunch options to students who request it.

“As a former high school athlete, coach, and the current District Director of Athletics at City Colleges of Chicago, I understand how important the health of students is,” said Nichols. “Providing students with the option of a healthy, plant-based school lunch is a great way to help them build good habits at a young age.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children, teens and young adults are developing type two diabetes more frequently. One of the CDC’s recommendations to prevent type two diabetes is eating more fruits and vegetables. To help ensure that students have as many opportunities as possible to have healthy meals, Nichols introduced House Bill 4089, allowing students to request plant-based lunches from their school.

“We should be making every effort to ensure that our kids have the options available to them to choose as healthy a lifestyle as possible,” said Nichols. “While this legislation is a step in the right direction, there is more work that needs to be done to provide opportunities to students to stay healthy. I will continue to work to ensure that we are prioritizing the health of students in our schools.”

For more information, please contact RepNicholsInfo@gmail.com.