I recall my elementary school days in Newark, NJ, where the only day I looked forward to lunch was pizza day. The rest of the week was filled with processed foods that lacked nutrition and taste. Today, our children are still being fed this way – like criminals. It’s time for a change.
Newark Public Schools serve over 35,000 students daily (source: National Center for Education Statistics). Yet, despite the large number of students relying on these meals for their daily nutritional needs, many of these meals consist primarily of processed foods with limited fresh options.
We believe every child deserves access to fresh food at school – not just on special occasions but every single day. We want more entree options featuring seeded fruits and vegetables that provide essential nutrients necessary for healthy growth and cognitive development (source: American Academy of Pediatrics).
Processed foods have been linked to numerous health issues including obesity and diabetes (source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Our children deserve better than this. They deserve meals that will nourish them physically and mentally.
We call upon the Newark NJ Board of Education to make a commitment towards improving our children’s health by expanding fresh food options in all public schools across Newark NJ. No more processed foods! Let’s give our kids the nutritious meals they need to thrive!
PLEASE support by signing our petition