Albany, NY —   Over 80 faith-based, public health, anti-hunger, environmental, and food systems organizations and school districts have sent a letter urging New York Governor Kathy Hochul to allocate $10 million in the upcoming Executive Budget to expand K-12 student access to kosher, halal, and plant-based meals and beverages. 

The proposed investment would establish a voluntary grant program administered by the New York State Education Department, equipping school districts with flexible resources to  overcome barriers to offering more inclusive meal options, ensuring New York’s school meals are truly universal.

New York’s Universal Free School Meals policy is a landmark victory in the fight against child hunger, but access to free meals means little if those meals don’t meet students’ dietary needs.  Without the resources, training, and support to accommodate diverse dietary requirements, schools cannot ensure that every student has access to a nourishing meal. 

As a result, students who require kosher, halal, and/or plant-based meals are frequently left behind—either forced to go hungry during the school day or bring food from home. This places an unfair financial burden on families, who spend an estimated $1,600 to $1,980 per child annually to pack meals for school. 

"Universal school meals should be for everyone," said Dr. Charles Moon, MD FAAP, Public Policy & Advocacy Committee Co-Chair for the New York State American Academy of Pediatrics (NYS AAP). "Increasing state budget funding that allows for NY schools to offer kosher, halal, and plant-based meals to students would go a long way towards making school meals truly universal and help more families struggling with affordability concerns. Increasing school meal choice for those with different dietary needs supports growth and development, is health promotive, helps ensure kids are best prepared to face the school day. We hope the governor and legislature agree and include this important funding in their 2027 budget proposals."

Designed to strengthen schools’ operational capacity and make inclusive meal service more sustainable, the proposed grant program would provide interested districts with flexible funding to address their specific barriers. Districts could apply the funding toward technical assistance, recipe development, food and beverage procurement, staff training, certifications, equipment upgrades, and student and family engagement. 

"No child should go hungry at school because the meals served don’t meet their dietary needs,” said Meghan Jones, Senior Policy Advocate for School Food Policy at Friends of the Earth. “We've seen firsthand how expanding plant-based entrées and dairy-free beverages like soymilk can increase school meal participation, allowing more students to access the nutrition they need to thrive. Providing schools with the resources they need to expand plant-based, kosher, and halal options is essential to ensuring New York's investment in Universal Free School Meals reaches every student and delivers on its promise of better nutrition, greater equity, and financial relief for families.”

Demand for more kosher, halal, and plant-based school meals and beverages is significant, particularly in New York, which is home to the nation’s largest Jewish and Muslim populations. Nationwide, 83% of Muslim respondents report keeping or preferring a halal diet, while 31% of Jewish adults in New York keep completely or partially kosher. Student interest in plant-based options is also substantial, with 37% of students nationwide reporting they would participate in school lunch more often if vegetarian or vegan meals were more widely available. Additionally, approximately 57% of New York State’s 2.4 million public school students belong to racial and ethnic groups with disproportionately high rates of lactose intolerance, making access to non-dairy food and beverage options an important equity issue. 

“School lunch is more than a meal; it’s recognition that every student belongs, including students who have migrated to the United States and may have different dietary needs.” said Kathleen Cruz, 17-year-old student advocate, New York City. “I’ve seen how important it is for students to feel included and respected, especially when so many rely on school meals each day. Inclusive options like halal, kosher, and plant-based meals ensure that no one is left out. Supporting funding for these meals means every student knows they matter and has a place at the table, that they belong.”

Advocates for this new program emphasize that securing funding is only the first step. If the $10 million appropriation is included in the Executive Budget, the coalition is committed to working closely with the New York State Education Department, school nutrition directors, and other stakeholders to ensure the program is implemented with rigorous integrity that meets students' dietary requirements.

"Ensuring that Muslim students have access to nutritious, religiously appropriate meals is not simply a matter of providing options; it is about ensuring that those meals genuinely meet the religious dietary requirements of the families they are intended to serve. As New York expands access to inclusive school meals, it is essential that funding also supports comprehensive halal integrity standards, including verification, monitoring, and oversight throughout procurement, preparation, and service. This will help ensure that Muslim families can have confidence in the meals provided to their children and that the promise of inclusive school meals is meaningfully fulfilled." said Shaykh Ibad Wali, Director of Halal Certification, Majlis Ash-Shura: Islamic Leadership Council of New York

“A truly universal school meal program must recognize that students and families have different religious, cultural, and ethical food needs. Jewish tradition teaches us that feeding the community is a fundamental responsibility, and that we must also be mindful of where our food comes from and the broader impacts of the systems that produce it. Investing in kosher, halal, and plant-based options is one important way to put those values into practice, ensuring that every child has access to nourishing food without having to compromise their beliefs or go hungry.” said Rabbi Melissa Hoffman, Executive Director, Center for Jewish Food Ethics

“Students should have the right to food that aligns with their dietary, religious, and ethical needs. Restricting access to the foods that meet their needs adds unnecessary burdens to their families, limits students’ ability to thrive and succeed, and undermines the values they are being instilled with at home and in school.  The Interfaith Public Health Network therefore heartily joins advocates across New York State in requesting that Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature increase funding for school districts to enable them to expand access to kosher, halal, and plant-based meals.”  said Kelly Moltzen, OFS, MPH, RD, Director of Programming & Partnership Development, Interfaith Public Health Network

“Students with dietary restrictions such as religious, cultural, or medical needs face greater barriers to accessing sufficient, appropriate food at school and outside of school. This increases their risk of food insecurity compared to their peers. With 1 out of every 5 children in New York State facing hunger, our state must prioritize inclusive school meals to mitigate food injustice so every child has a chance at a healthy body and mind.” said Eloísa Trinidad, Executive Director, Chilis on Wheels

“Plant-based main dish options aren’t just important for vegans. They are great for all students who wish to take the single biggest single action anyone can take to address climate change, or just prefer a healthier, fiber-filled meal (95% of students are not getting enough fiber!) We have worked extensively with New York City and Ithaca schools to expand plant-based main dish offerings, and we are here to help any school that is interested, at no cost.” said Amie Hamlin, Executive Director & Co-Founder, Coalition for Healthy School Food. 

“As a young food advocate from Yonkers, I believe that providing halal meals in schools is essential. For many students, lunch is the one reliable meal of the day. When school meal options don't align with students' faiths and cultural practices, students are left with the difficult choice of going hungry or skipping lunch altogether. Every student deserves the opportunity to eat at school without compromising their family's beliefs— that's not extra, that's basic.” said Haytham Alomari, high school student, Yonkers, NY

“My child will be entering public school soon, and like many kids, she also has dietary challenges, and I am concerned about how she will do in a K-12 setting. I know for schools, everything comes down to budget. My hope is that additional financial support for schools will translate into more inclusive meals and better support for students with dietary restrictions. From hiring additional lunch personnel to training school food service staff on how to best support students, this funding could improve the school lunch experience for every child, including those with dietary restrictions due to autism.”  said Ashley, mother, Selden, NY

“My younger siblings are now in the same public school system that I attended, and they deserve better than what I experienced. I grew up going hungry after lunch because there were little to no meal options for Muslims, nothing filling, and nothing halal. I struggled to focus in class, battling hunger pangs and headaches when I couldn’t bring my own food, because the only option for me was a cold, thin sandwich. In one of the most diverse states in the country, inclusive meals shouldn’t be an afterthought; they should be the expectation. Every student, regardless of faith or background, deserves to feel seen and well nourished at school.” said Yyra Takat, college student and advocate, New York City

ABOUT THE NEW YORK INCLUSIVE SCHOOL MEALS COALITION

The New York Inclusive School Meals Coalition is made up of 20 organizations– including faith-based, climate, public health, food access and anti-hunger, and plant-based school meal advocacy groups–dedicated to ensuring that Universal School Meals are truly universal. By advocating for a voluntary grants program to help schools expand halal, kosher, and plant-based options, the coalition works to make school meals accessible to more students across New York state.

Media Contact: Jessica Christopher, jessica.christopher@curatorpr.com, 610-945-8615 (PT)