US public schools serve over 7 billion meals annually, with the power to make a profound impact on the health of students and the environment. However, public schools face significant challenges in feeding students healthy, delicious, and environmentally friendly food on a tight budget.

Animal products require over 10x the resources to produce than plant-based products, greatly increasing their environmental impact. Additionally, choosing plant-based options helps decrease the demand for meat and dairy products produced through inhumane practices at factory farms, which many students oppose. Offering plant-based choices allows students to avoid supporting practices they disagree with. Finally, transitioning to a plant-based diet reduces the risk of heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and other common illnesses. According to Harvard Medical School, "vegan diets can absolutely be healthy" for children, teenagers, and adults alike.

Our mission is to launch a campaign to offer more plant-based options in WCPSS cafeterias. More plant-based options will help ensure that every student has access to food that is in line with their dietary needs, cultural, religious, or other beliefs. If you are in support of increasing plant-based menu offerings in Wake County Schools, sign the petition and share it with friends and family!

Follow @plantpowered.wake for updates and more ways to get involved!