CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A Keyser High School senior is asking state lawmakers to require that West Virginia schools serve a nutritious vegetarian meal option in cafeterias.
Aubrey Fisher, a vegetarian, appeared before some members of the House of Delegates via video chat on Feb. 3 to ask for their support of her idea.
“Even though I’m a senior and this legislation wouldn’t affect me personally, I know that if this bill were to be passed, it will provide lunches to hundreds of students who normally don’t get one or have to just get hungry that day,” she told members of the House of Delegates Public Education Subcommittee.
Her high school, Fisher said, has limited options for vegetarian students. School leaders had asked her to provide a doctor’s note to receive other food accommodations, but it was an ethical — not medical — decision for her.
Cooks directed her to the salad bar.
“(It) can be frustrating, because at times, there’s days where all I can eat is shredded lettuce, and I look around and see everybody else enjoying a full meal,” Fisher said. “So, it is frustrating when that happens, especially being a student athlete.
She contacted Del. Gary Howell, R-Mineral, and alerted him to the problem.
“I saw this as a teaching opportunity, so I have been keeping the student informed via email throughout the process,” Howell wrote in an opinion piece in support of the measure.
In response, he sponsored House Bill 4871, which would require each county board of education operating a school nutrition program to make a vegetarian meal option available for students. Meals would have to comply with all applicable federal nutritional guidelines and reimbursement requirements established under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program.
Federal funding is available for vegetarian school meal options, Howell said.
Del. Elliott Pritt, a public school teacher in Fayette County, noted that his county does provide vegetarian options to students.
“We offer full meals, but it’s very unfortunate that yours will not, so that’s probably why we need to do this,” said Pritt, R-Fayette.
Dale Lee, co-president of the teachers union Education West Virginia, spoke in favor of the bill.
“I just wanted to commend you for your courage and standing up and speaking out on this,” Lee said. “This is something that needs to be brought to the forefront.”
The legislation would have to be approved by the House Public Education Subcommittee before advancing.