The 2025-2030 dietary guidelines for Americans will determine what millions of students eat in school cafeterias, and as the mother of a middle school and a high school student, and a certified nutrition and cooking instructor working with Minnesota school districts to strengthen their nutrition programs, I'm deeply discouraged. Don’t get me wrong. I was happy to see an emphasis on fruits, vegetables, whole foods, and water, as well as suggestions to reduce sugar and alcohol intake. Still, there are some significant concerns elsewhere in this document. The Guidelines determine what goes on cafeteria trays for millions of American students, and they are a big step backwards for children’s health.

Why the 2025 guidelines prioritize meat over plant proteins

The Guidelines as a whole are depicted in an inverted pyramid, with red meat alongside broccoli, well above more healthful proteins like legumes and beans. They suggest making protein a priority at every meal and eating a mix of animal and plant proteins, despite research that shows animal protein is associated with an increased risk of chronic diseases. Choosing plant proteins like beans and legumes, and avoiding processed meat, significantly reduces the risk of heart disease and colorectal cancer.

A young school child reaches to get some food from the cafeteria
Many school children rely on school lunches as an essential meal. Photo - Canva

How these guidelines fail students in school cafeterias

Because these federal Guidelines help determine which foods children are served, the consequences will show up in our school cafeterias. This year, my family is hosting a vegetarian exchange student. I thought, and told her, that she would not have difficulty finding a suitable lunch. Instead, when she asked for the vegetarian option, she was given a turkey hot dog with cheese and was told there was no other option. She was left feeling hungry, confused, and invisible.

How can schools support students’ health and their sense of belonging to the school community if they can’t provide foods that meet basic dietary needs or personal convictions?

The dairy problem: Ignoring one-third of students

The new Guidelines fail to update the milk recommendation and still suggest consuming 3 servings of dairy daily, including full-fat dairy. What message does that send to more than one-third of American school children who are unable to digest dairy products?

Dairy is the number one source of saturated fat in Americans’ diets and is not a necessary food for a healthy diet. Dairy is also associated with a higher risk of certain cancers. 

One bright spot is a new law that will give students access to plant-based milks in school without a doctor’s note, a requirement that has long been in place. Fortunately, soy products, like soy milk, are nutritionally equivalent, great for heart and bone health, and help reduce the risk of breast cancer.

A child takes food from the school cafetaria
Many students are unable to digest dairy. Photo - Canva

Health consequences for children

Pushing red meat and full-fat dairy will worsen our national epidemic of childhood overweight and obesity. It will not support students’ cognitive ability. Or even fight every middle schooler’s nightmare, acne.

Student activism shows what's possible

I have seen firsthand how much effort it can take for students to get even one reliably plant-based option on the menu. At Bloomington Kennedy High School in Minnesota, what began as a conversation with the environmental club grew into a coalition that included the student unity club. They had different motivations but shared one goal: a plant-based school lunch. After a letter to the nutrition director, a meeting with the assistant principal, and a presentation to the school board, the students finally succeeded. Their persistence resulted in a daily black bean burger and a salad bar. 

A group of high school children sit around a lunch table with trays of healthy food
Activism can make a positive impact to the food options within schools. Photo - Canva

Supporting the plant powered school meals pilot act

For all of these reasons, I support H.R. 5867, the Plant Powered School Meals Pilot Act, legislation in the U.S. Congress that would help schools offer more plant-based meals. I am hopeful that my Rep. Ilhan Omar will co-sponsor it.

My family is grateful for our state’s free universal school meals plan. Still, there is nothing universal about a system that leaves many students without anything they can safely or comfortably eat. The new Guidelines risk making positive change more difficult by steering schools away from the very foods that could expand access to healthful meals and improve public health.

Why these guidelines must be revised

After years of working with students and school leaders to introduce healthier, plant-based meals, I fear that the 2025–2030 Guidelines could undo hard-won progress. They should be withdrawn and revised to reflect current nutrition science and the needs of our nation’s children.

Our students deserve better than outdated advice and limited choices. They need meals that nourish their bodies, respect their cultures, and support their health. Our national nutrition guidelines should help schools move forward, not backwards.