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8 takeaways from Hawaiʻi's top ranking for school lunches
HONOLULU (KHON2) — The 2025 State of School Lunch Report shows Hawaiʻi is one of the best states in the country for healthy school lunches. Hawaiʻi earned a score of 76 out of 100 and ranked second, just behind Vermont.
This ranking reflects the quality of meals and nutrition programs offered in Hawaiʻi schools when compared to other states across the country.
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The report evaluated states based on several important factors. These include:
Farm to school programs.
Fresh fruit and vegetable availability.
Serving local foods.
School gardens.
Reduction of sugary drink consumption.
Hawaiʻi performed very well across most of these categories. Here's what we know from the report:
Hawaiʻi leads the nation with 99.6% of schools participating in farm to school programs, according to the report.
These programs connect students to fresh, locally sourced foods. Students learn about nutrition and get to eat meals made from ingredients grown nearby. The report indicated that this high level of participation shows a strong commitment to healthy eating in Hawaiʻi schools.
More than 99% of Hawaiʻi schools serve local foods to their students, the report said. Using local fruits, vegetables and other ingredients supports sustainable farming and ensures students receive fresher, more nutritious 65% of Hawaiʻi school food authorities participate in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, the report found.
This initiative offers free fruits and vegetables to students during the school day. Access to these fresh foods helps children build healthy eating habits and reduces risks of diet-related illnesses.
The report measures how many children eat vegetables daily and how many avoid sugary drinks. Eating vegetables regularly supports balanced diets and healthy growth. Limiting sugary drinks helps prevent childhood obesity and dental problems.
On the flip side of these achievements, the report found that Hawaiʻi's participation in school gardens is not the highest nationally.
It has been found that the use of edible gardens in schools helps students learn about where food comes from. Gardens give children hands-on experience growing plants and encourage healthier food choices.
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Vermont ranked first with a score of 82. Vermont stands out for its school gardens, with 39% of schools having edible gardens.
Washington, D.C. ranked third with a focus on fresh fruits and vegetables and local food offerings. These areas, along with Hawaiʻi, set examples for improving school lunch nutrition.
Some states scored much lower. Oklahoma, Mississippi and South Dakota ranked at the bottom, with less participation in farm to school programs and fewer schools serving fresh fruits and vegetables. The report found that these things demonstrate there is work to do nationwide to improve the health of school meals.
'Access to nutritious school lunches and nutrition education is crucial for the health and academic success of our nation's children,' said Stephanie Morris, senior vice president of ProCare Therapy.
The report highlighted how better meals help students grow, focus and learn.
You can click to read the full report.
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Offering nutritious, tasty and fresh meals helps students thrive in school and beyond, the report said.
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