Across the U.S., students from kindergarten through high school eagerly watch the clock, waiting for the much-anticipated lunch hour. For them, lunch is more than just a meal — it's a chance to socialize and take a break during a busy school day. Mealtime is a fundamental part of everyone’s day, which is why creating inclusive school cafeterias is essential. Although government programs strive to provide school lunches for all students, not all succeed in addressing a wide range of nutritional needs. 

The USDA’s National School Lunch Program should expand to include Kosher and Halal options, ensuring that all students, regardless of religious dietary needs, have access to nutritious school lunches. 

One such program, the USDA’s National School Lunch Program (NSLP), currently provides federally funded low-cost or free lunches to students in approximately 100,000 public schools, nonprofit private schools, and residential childcare institutions. However, the program fails to accommodate those with specific religious dietary requirements. As the demand for Kosher and Halal foods grows amidst America’s diverse student population, it is crucial that the NSLP offers school lunches that address various dietary needs to ensure all students have access to nutritious and inclusive options. 

As of 2017, there are approximately 1.35 million Muslim children and 1.7 million Jewish children in the U.S. In the coming decades, the Muslim population is projected to become the nation’s second-largest religious group, while the Jewish population is expected to increase steadily. Given these demographics, it’s likely that thousands of students do not participate in school lunch programs, such as the NSLP, due to their religious dietary customs. Clearly, there is a notable number of students who could benefit from Halal or Kosher lunch options in schools. 

The current lack of adequate meal options likely leaves Halal observant students with limited choices, such as a measly peanut butter and jelly sandwich, while many Kosher observant students may struggle to fund any suitable options at all. As a result, these students likely go hungry, particularly those whose parents cannot afford to send them to school with a packed lunch. 

This issue has gained some attention after the Office of New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer proposed a project to offer Halal and Kosher meal options in select New York City public school cafeterias. Similarly, the California Senate Education Committee recently passed the Halal and Kosher School Meals Act with a unanimous 7-0 vote. This bill requires California public schools to provide Halal and Kosher meal options if requested and is set to take effect in the 2025-2026 school year.

However, since widespread action has not yet been implemented, some community-led organizations and individual school districts have started working with schools to provide appropriate lunch options and improve food equity. Currently, there are 12 school districts nationwide that offer certified Halal foods for school lunch, with some also providing kosher options.

In addition, the inclusion of Kosher and Halal foods in public schools can be more costly than non-Kosher and non-Halal foods. New York City Public Schools, one of the districts offering Kosher and Halal options, reported that these meats are 10 to 20 percent more expensive. This factor makes it difficult for independent school districts and organizations to bear the expense alone, highlighting the need for government intervention through programs like the NSLP to ensure these religious accommodations are available for students nationwide. 

Given the established NSLP frameworks and regulations, incorporating Kosher and Halal options should be feasible. The NSLP provides participating school districts and independent schools with cash subsidies for each meal served as long as they meet federal meal pattern requirements and offer free or reduced-price lunches to eligible children. Additionally, schools receive USDA Foods selected from a USDA-approved list, all adhering to strict nutritional and safety standards. It's important to note that the reimbursements vary from school to school based on differences in purchase volumes, location, and purchasing practices. 

That said, funding religious dietary accommodations through the NSLP should not be a problem.  As long as schools comply with USDA requirements and serve eligible students, there is no limit to the amount of federal funding that states and school districts can receive for NSLP. 

To better accommodate religious dietary needs, the USDA should add Kosher and Halal companies to its list of vendors and incorporate more Kosher and Halal foods into its USDA Foods lists. When determining program eligibility, schools should be able to note students’ religious dietary needs, ensuring that USDA Foods or cash subsidies are used to provide appropriate meal options for every student. Since non-Muslim and non-Jewish students can also eat Kosher and Halal foods, these options could help serve a broader student population. By taking these steps, the NSLP can better support all students by ensuring access to nutritious meals that respect diverse dietary restrictions.