(WTTW News)

More than 1,000 students across 278 public school districts in Illinois have requested to receive plant-based lunch options, according to advocates during a Thursday news conference.

The milestone comes over one year after an Illinois law went into effect requiring public schools to provide a plant-based lunch for students who have, or whose parents have, requested that option in advance.

Chef Rodolfo Cuadros of Bloom Plant Based Kitchen in Wicker Park has two daughters who are signed up to receive plant-based lunch twice a week at their school. The restaurant has teamed up with the campaign More Plants On Plates Illinois to increase awareness of plant-based meals being an option for students.

“We think that this is really going to make a difference, not only in my kids’ life, but hopefully every kid's life,” Cuadros said during the news conference. “Over time, they should be more accustomed to eating a variety of vegetables and fruits …. As a community, as a Hispanic, or minority, I think this is a step in the right direction to make sure that our kids lead healthier lives.”

The plant-based school lunches meet the same federal nutrition standards as non-plant based options, according to the More Plants On Plates Illinois’ website.

Students can be opted in for plant-based lunches at any time at no extra cost. Additionally, students and parents can pick how often during the school week they want to receive the lunches.

Parents or guardians can sign up for plant-based meals for elementary and middle school students. High school students can fill out the form on their own.

Chef Rodolfo Cuadros of Bloom Plant Based Kitchen in Wicker Park speaks during a news conference about his two daughters who are signed up to receive plant-based lunch twice a week at their school. (WTTW News)

Chase Elementary, a public school located in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood, has the highest concentration of students opting for plant-based meals of any school in the state, according to officials.

“Our state is listening to families, listening to parents and students who want healthier and more inclusive food options at school,” said state Rep. Will Guzzardi of the 39th District, whose district includes Chase Elementary. “We are also hearing a growing chorus of folks in our community asking not only for food at school that is healthy for students, but also that contributes to environmental sustainability.”

Meryl Fury, a registered nurse and CEO of the Plant Based Nutrition Movement, said during the news conference that Illinois students having access to plant-based meals is a culmination of her lifetime’s work.

Kids eating more plant-based foods can make a difference in the long-term as they grow into adults, according to Fury.

“Chronic illness and health issues in general, disproportionately affect people of color and inner city- and low-income people,” Fury said. “Introducing kids to more fruits and vegetables and legumes and whole grains and nuts and seeds and mushrooms is really giving them an opening to a long and healthy life.”

According to a sample menu on More Plants On Plates Illinois’ website, examples of lunches include sloppy joes made with lentils and mushrooms, slow roasted mushroom pasta with rosemary chickpeas, roasted vegetable and hummus sandwiches, curry bowls and more.

Stacey Whitney is culinary director at Academy for Global Citizenship, a public charter school near Archer Heights. During the 2021-22 school year, the school launched a working group with Esperanza Medical Centers to engage the community around serving plant-based foods.

The school is now in its second year operating a food program that is 75% plant-based, according to Whitney. Plant-based foods offered at the school are culturally relevant foods that students might already be familiar with, Whitney said, such as pozole, black bean tacos, black bean burgers and jackfruit mole.

“I encourage every child in the school to give our meals a try,” Whitney said. “Some of them are not familiar with plant-based meals, so this is an introduction for some and for some, this is how they've been eating their entire lives.”

Contact Eunice Alpasan: @eunicealpasan | 773-509-5362 | [email protected]