Students across the El Monte Union High School District will soon have a larger role in shaping what appears on their lunch trays, following the creation of a new student-led advisory group focused on vegetarian and vegan options.
The District’s newly formed Dietary Inclusion Council will work directly with the Nutrition Services Department to advocate for healthier, plant-based meals on daily school menus. The council was established after the Board of Trustees approved a resolution at its Jan. 7 meeting, prompted by a student petition led by Arroyo High School senior Emily Lin.
Lin said the Dietary Inclusion Council is designed to give students a direct voice in cafeteria decisions, with a focus on health, inclusion, and environmental responsibility.
“My main goal with the Dietary Inclusion Council is to make sure that every student is heard and has the ability to specifically implement changes within the cafeteria,” Lin said. “By offering vegetarian options, our district is taking meaningful action on climate change while giving students a voice and making an impact on real-world decisions.”
To support the effort, Lin also secured a $4,000 microgrant from the nonprofit advocacy group Friends of the Earth. The funding will be used to promote plant-based meals and expand taste-testing, a required step before new items can be added to district menus.
District nutrition leaders welcomed the student involvement. Director of Nutrition Services Suzy Sayre and Nutrition Coordinator Toni Fu said the council builds on past efforts while creating new opportunities for collaboration.
“I love that Emily is so enthusiastic,” Sayre said. “She contacted Toni and me directly with her idea for the council, and we had an amazing talk. With support from the Friends of the Earth grant, we can better showcase these options and expand taste-testing, which is a key step in the process.”
Sayre noted the district previously operated a student-led Meatless Mondays program that offered meat-free breakfast and lunch options for several years.
Lin’s advocacy has also extended beyond the district. Last October, she spoke at the California School Nutrition Association Conference in Pasadena, addressing nutrition directors and food service industry representatives about the health benefits of plant-based meals. During the conference, Lin toured an exhibit hall featuring more than 1,200 vendors, many offering vegetarian and vegan school meal options.
Sayre said Lin’s presentation left a strong impression on attendees and reflected her growing role as a student advocate.
In summer 2025, Lin traveled to Washington, D.C., where she met with U.S. Department of Agriculture representatives to support changes to the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act. The bill, passed Jan. 14, allows schools greater flexibility to offer non-dairy milk alternatives, such as soy milk.
“The amended bill is a big win for students, especially students of color who experience higher rates of lactose intolerance,” Lin said.
As a result of Lin’s efforts, El Monte Union now offers a vegetarian entrée option every weekday at all school sites. Current menu items include vegan buffalo nuggets, plant-based meatballs, and vegetable dumplings. Fu also incorporates Asian-inspired dishes, sourcing ingredients from local specialty markets in El Monte.
Lin has applied to several University of California campuses and said she plans to major in public health or public policy. She said her long-term goal is to reduce barriers that limit access to nutrition and health resources in communities like El Monte, building on advocacy work she began as a high school student.
More information about plant-based school food initiatives supported by the grant can be found through Friends of the Earth at https://foe.org.
