Assembly Concurrent Resolution 16 - Legislative Report

Report to the Governor, Legislature, and the Legislative Analyst's Office: Assembly Concurrent Resolution 16: Nutrition: Vegetarian School Lunches.

California Department of Education
Report to the Governor, Legislature, and the Legislative Analyst’s Office:
Assembly Concurrent Resolution 16: Nutrition: Vegetarian School Lunches
Executive Summary

The California Department of Education and the California Department of Public Health are submitting this report in response to the 2003 Assembly Concurrent Resolution (ACR) 16: Nutrition: Vegetarian School Lunches sponsored by Assemblyman Joe Nation. It presents a summary of the current efforts and progress being made to offer vegetarian and cultural school lunches to students in public schools.

This report provides information on the health status of school children, student dietary habits, vegetarian diets, and statewide efforts to support vegetarian/vegan meal service and nutrition education in schools. It highlights school districts that offer vegetarian/vegan meals, outlines potential regulatory changes and factors that affect or may affect implementation of ACR 16, and provides recommendations for additional work. The report also includes information on activities that are building a foundation to further achieve ACR 16 goals and improve student meals and overall student health.

You may find this report at California Department of Education ACR 16 (PDF; 3MB). If you have any questions regarding this report, please contact the California Department of Education Nutrition Services Division by phone at 800-952-5609 or by email at SNPinfo@cde.ca.gov.

Questions: Nutrition Services Division | 800-952-5609

Last Reviewed: Thursday, April 30, 2026

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