Over 500,000 children in Massachusetts rely on school lunch as a critical source of their daily nutrition. Currently many of the entrees served in Massachusetts public schools have unhealthy nutritional profiles often relying heavily on processed and ultra processed foods. Typical school lunch menus offer an overrepresentation of nutrient poor items including chicken nuggets, cheeseburgers, frozen pizza, hot dogs, and deli meat. At the same time, 9 out of 10 Massachusetts children under-consuming fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and proteins high in fiber and other critical nutrients.

The Massachusetts Healthy School Lunch Bill has the power to change that.

The Massachusetts Healthy School Lunch Bill, An Act Relative to Healthy School Lunch (SB 308/HB 451) calls for stricter limits on the amount of ultra processed foods that can be sold and served to schools. It requires corporate food service management companies to provide lunch entree options composed of health promoting, planet friendly, fiber rich whole foods including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes.

It’s about more than just what's on the menu. It's about the health and wellbeing of our children, families, communities, and the Commonwealth.

Let your voice be heard. Contact your Massachusetts legislators and encourage them to support the Healthy School Lunch Bill.