State legislators  and Chicago City Council members alongside school leaders and health advocates celebrated the plant-based school lunch law that has led to more than 1,000 students across 278 Illinois school districts—and counting—to opt in to plant-based lunches for the 2024-2025 school year. These sign-ups reflect a strong and increasing demand for nutritious and tasty plant-powered meals in schools across the state. A nationwide first, the Illinois law went into effect a year ago in August 2023, requiring schools that receive federal reimbursement for lunch meals to serve plant-based meals with prior request.  Illinois’ plant-based school lunches have gained widespread support from legislators, city council members, parents, children, educators, and food service directors. To sign up, parents and students filled out a brief form on the More Plants on Plates IL (MPPI) website, and the MPPI coalition partners work directly with school districts to ensure they have the resources and support needed to provide delicious, nutritious plant-based lunches. In addition to meeting USDA nutrition guidelines, the plant-based meals offered in Illinois schools include familiar, kid-friendly foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes and plant-based versions of popular dishes like burgers and tacos. For more information about the campaign or to request plant-based meals, parents and students can visit https://www.moreplantsonplatesil.com/ to fill out the online form.