Better Food, Better Health for Students!
Sec. Vilsack, Sec. Cardona, Sec. Guidera, Dr. Howell, VA Members of Congress, VA Superintendents/Principals, VA School Boards, VA Senate/House Members
We are students in Newport News and Hampton, VA and we want your help in fighting for better school meals across Virginia! Do you think school meals are bad-tasting or bland, have weird smells and textures, or are even expired? Sign the petition! Do you think students need more food options because of allergies or dietary restrictions? Sign the petition! Do you know that kids get hungry because they eat so early and don't get home until late? Sign the petition! Do you think the portions are too small for our appetites and growing bodies? Sign the petition! Did you know that some kids can't afford to bring their own snacks and food and are stuck with the school meals? Sign the petition! Are you upset about the amount of food being wasted in school cafeterias across the state? Sign the petition!
And this is no disrespect to the hard-working staff in our schools. But we are reaching out to the decision-makers because we need a change.
We are not just being "picky kids". We are voicing real concerns that are impacting our lives. We know we can't focus when we're hungry.
To put it simply: Better meals = better health = better focus & education!
Our demands: Better tasting healthy food. More food options for vegans and vegetarians and those with allergies and dietary restrictions. Larger portions for higher grade levels. Better lunch times or more food provided so we don't go hungry in the afternoon. A free, transparent, and accessible online platform where students can offer feedback about our food.
If we come together to stop this injustice, we can help our health AND future.
Sign this petition!
-Dreamer's Institute Student Leaders and Kecoughtan High School Student Lunch Advocates
Petition by
To:
Sec. Vilsack, Sec. Cardona, Sec. Guidera, Dr. Howell, VA Members of Congress, VA Superintendents/Principals, VA School Boards, VA Senate/House Members
From:
[Your Name]
We, the undersigned, are demanding better school meals. We understand and appreciate your hard work to make sure our meals are healthy but the current food being served is inedible. And an enormous amount of food being provided is going to waste because of the lack of quality. School food options are often so bland or inedible that students don't eat them. There have even been expired foods being served. When students do eat the food, there are strange food textures and tastes, and the portions are too small. Students with financial hardships who can't afford to buy their own snacks and food are stuck with this inedible food as their only option. Students with many allergies or dietary restrictions are often stuck with nothing due to a lack of choices. Some students also often experience hunger due to having early lunch times and not getting home until later in the evening. They go that whole time without snacks or food unless they bring it themselves.
This is not about just being picky kids. And this is no disrespect to the hard-working staff in our schools. But this petition is to reach out to the decision-makers because we need a change. We are voicing real concerns that are impacting our lives and taxpayer dollars. A lot of the school-provided food goes to waste because we can't or won't eat it. With Virginia being ranked as the 9th state in food waste by LawnStarter in 2022, and with businesses signing up to be US Food Loss and Waste 2023 Champions - it seems like VA Schools would want to work to reduce food waste. The VDOE reported approximately 112,700 million lunches and 57 million breakfasts are served during the school year in VA. How many of those were thrown away because of the issues we've raised?
We also want to point out how hard it is for us to focus and succeed in school when we are hungry. Further, it is nearly impossible for us to have a healthy and balanced diet when we are skipping school meals due to these issues.
To put it simply:
Better meals = better health = better focus & education!
Our demands:
1. Better tasting healthy food for school meals, regardless of status as free, reduced-price, or full-price meals.
2. More food options for vegans and vegetarians and those with food allergies/sensitivities and food restrictions.
3. Better lunch times due to long school days.
4. Larger portions for higher grade levels.
5. A free, accessible, and transparent online platform for student feedback to government officials about schools and school meals.
We are working with VA BLOC to fight for these changes. If you have any questions, you can contact them at info@va-bloc.org or 757-751-9081. We look forward to hearing from you about the changes that will be made.