advocacy, federal policy, school nutrition
School Meals Matter for Alaska
By Rachel Lord, Advocacy and Policy Director, AFPC
Each day, in school kitchens across the state, trays are lined, ovens are preheating, and staff are prepping meals that might be the only consistent food some students get all day. Our school kitchens and, most importantly, the people who staff them are nothing short of essential.
In January, I had the privilege of attending the 57th Annual Alaska School Nutrition Association conference in Anchorage. It was an energizing few days surrounded by some of the incredible school nutrition professionals who feed our kids every day across Alaska. Passionate and dedicated, I met dozens of people doing the hard work of nourishing our students, often under incredible challenges.
Let’s talk about those challenges for a moment. School food programs must meet a daunting list of federal nutrition standards and regulations. From calorie counts and sodium levels to whole grain requirements and procurement rules, school nutrition staff are navigating an intense web of compliance. It’s not just about cooking—it’s menu planning, sourcing, inventory, budgeting, reporting, and training. They are dietitians, managers, educators, and caregivers all in one.
And they’re also innovators. Across Alaska, we’re seeing districts take bold steps to bring better, fresher, more local food to our kids. There’s a long history of passion in our state for connecting students to the food they eat, through local fish, Alaska-grown vegetables, and culturally relevant meals that resonate with our communities. That momentum is growing.
In Anchorage, the PLANTS (Plant-forward Lunches Accessed by a Network of Teachers & Schools) grant, a partnership between the USDA and Chef Ann Foundation, is creating new pathways for scratch cooking and more plant-based, whole food meals in schools. Meanwhile, places like Sitka and Petersburg are showing us what’s possible when committed kitchen staff, administrators, and local producers work together. These districts are creating menus that not only meet the regs, but make kids excited to eat school lunch.
Miss Brittany in Petersburg shows off salmon lunch.
Photo by Carlee Johnson McIntosh
I saw this play out in a small but powerful way earlier this month. Our local PTO provided pancake breakfasts every morning during testing days. Nothing fancy—just warm pancakes, a little syrup, and community. But here’s the thing: nearly zero kids were late. On testing days. Kids were ready and excited to be at school. That’s the power of a meal. It grounds us. It says: we care that you’re here, we care that you succeed.
Breakfast is crucial. No child can be expected to learn, focus, or thrive on an empty stomach. And the data backs that up with nutrition linked to attendance, academic performance, and emotional regulation.
The Alaska School Nutrition Association Trade Show in January, where vendors come to showcase foods available for procurement for school meals.
Here at the Alaska Food Policy Council, we’re committed to uplifting the often invisible work of school kitchen staff across our state. They are feeding the future, one tray at a time. We’ll be sharing stories and highlighting innovation, grit, and joy from school kitchens big and small. And stay tuned – we’re also leaning into the opportunities to better connect Alaska producers with school menu planning and procurement, strengthening our local food systems and giving students a tangible link to the land and water around them. There are amazing people, schools, and organizations around Alaska doing just that. At AFPC, we’re excited to help leverage their efforts through connection and collaboration to expand the reach and impacts as far as possible. In 2012, AFPC had a school nutrition working group. We’re excited to jumpstart that again this year, creating a space for regular conversations across food systems sectors that touch school nutrition.
It’s not just about feeding kids—it’s about investing in our communities, our local economies, and the health and well-being of future generations of Alaskans, and we can’t wait to connect!
