With all the school food developments happening on the federal level these days, I’m a bit late in reporting some nice news from my own backyard.
Houston ISD, the largest school district in Texas and the seventh largest in the nation, recently announced its new “Lean and Green” initiative: offering its students meatless school meal entrees on Mondays.
Elementary and middle school students can now choose a vegetarian entree each Monday, and on the second Monday of the month only meat-free options are offered. Meatless items have included bean and cheese burritos, cheese enchiladas, pasta with marinara sauce, and spicy grilled cheese sandwiches. (The district has actually been serving meatless entrees for several months but waited to confirm student and parent acceptance of the new menu before announcing the effort publicly.)
Daniella Monet, a 25-year-old actress and singer best known for her role on Nickelodeon’s “Victorious” and the host of the Kids’ Choice Awards, came to Houston as a guest of the Humane Society to promote the program. Monet, a long-time vegan, visited HISD’s Gregory Lincoln Education Center where she toured the school’s garden, spoke in a culinary class (taught by the dynamic Kellie Karavias) and ate lunch with the students. I was able to stop by during Monet’s appearance and listened in as she answered middle school students’ questions about how she maintains a plant-based diet.
Here are some photos from the day:
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