We’ve written about school food a few times here, from supply chain shortages, to a bill aimed at the procurement process, and the usual quality complaints with a creative photography twist.
Often missing and overlooked from the conversation is children’s religious dietary requirements. And some students and experts don’t think those needs are being met.
Chicago Public Schools started a pilot program just a few years ago for halal and kosher food for Muslim and Jewish students. Followers of both religions don’t eat pork, while chicken and cow products must be killed and prepared in a particular humane fashion according to the rules of the faiths.
CPS serves daily halal meals at seven of its 500-plus schools, and kosher food at eight schools. Kosher meals, meanwhile, can also be catered to students at any school if requested.
A leader with the Des Plaines-based non-profit Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America, or IFANCA, said the issue comes down to nutritional equity and oversight.
“Food security is a real issue. When these kids come to school and aren’t given the proper nutrition, they can’t be mentally and physically at 100%,” Asma Ahad told me. “They’re functioning at a suboptimal level. That has short- and longterm implications for their development.”
You can read more about the issue below, along with our other top stories of the week. We have the latest on CPS’ plan to tighten school security in the wake of the Uvalde, Texas, school massacre, plus details on everyone’s favorite topic: pensions.
Until next week,
Nader Issa, Sun-Times education reporter
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