Scratch Cooked Meals for Students Act

Scratch Cooked Meals for Students Act

This bill establishes a pilot program to award competitive grants to school food authorities and local educational agencies for activities that promote the use of ingredients that are unprocessed or minimally processed (i.e., scratch cooking) in school meals.

Bill 117 HR 6608, also known as the Scratch Cooked Meals for Students Act, is a piece of legislation introduced in the US Congress. The main goal of this bill is to improve the quality of meals served to students in schools by requiring that all meals be prepared from scratch using fresh, whole ingredients.

The bill outlines specific requirements for school meal programs, including the use of locally sourced ingredients whenever possible and the elimination of processed foods high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats. It also calls for the implementation of nutrition education programs to teach students about the importance of healthy eating habits.

Additionally, the Scratch Cooked Meals for Students Act aims to provide funding to schools to help cover the costs associated with transitioning to scratch-cooked meal programs. This funding would be used to purchase kitchen equipment, train staff, and purchase ingredients from local farmers and producers. Overall, this bill seeks to improve the health and well-being of students by ensuring that they have access to nutritious, freshly prepared meals while at school. It also aims to support local farmers and promote sustainable food practices within school meal programs.