Five local charter schools head back to school this year with “Conscious Cafeterias,” a healthier and more environmentally friendly approach to school lunches.
The Conscious Cafeteria Project, spearheaded by Ahimsa’s food ware line, is focused on transitioning from single-use plastic trays and utensils to reusable steel.
“The Conscious Cafeteria Project is a critical step in ensuring our students have access to nutritious meals and safe materials that not only support their health but also contribute to a more sustainable environment,” Deputy Mayor Judith Thomas said. “The collaboration between our schools, local organizations, and businesses exemplifies the power of community in driving positive change.”
The transition of the cafeterias is expected to reduce the carbon emissions at the following schools:
- Purdue Polytechnic High School — Englewood
- Purdue Polytechnic High School — Broad Ripple
- IN Math & Science Academy West
- Victory College Prep
- Bethel Park Elementary
The program aims to reduce plastic for more than just environmental reasons. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, plastic can cause negative health effects on a child’s growing brain and body. This finding inspired Riley pediatrician Manasa Mantravadi to found Ahimsa, a line of stainless-steel food ware for school cafeterias.
“I’m tired of always treating diseases in kids and watching society teach children about ocean cleanups to combat plastic. We need to go upstream and prevent these medical and environmental issues with healthier nutrition and reuse in their everyday lives,” Mantravadi said.
The efforts to reduce plastic waste are made possible by the support of Cummins Inc., who has contributed employee engagement days in schools to foster career conversations with students.
Purdue Polytechnic High School also participates in the PataSchool initiative, which implements healthier school lunches with fresh ingredients. PataSchool provides more than 250,000 meals each year to 1,500 students around Indy.
As part of the project, 15 national elementary schools have studied the effects of switching to stainless steel trays. They found average annual savings of:
- More than $2,800 in total cost savings.
- 3,300 pounds of waste eliminated.
- 73,747 single-use items eliminated.
- 9,747 gallons of water saved.
- More than 19 tons in carbon savings (equal to taking 1,680 cars off the road for a day).
- More than $1,000 in waste hauling savings.
The project is also aimed to assist vulnerable populations.
At one pilot school in Indy, 70% of students eat breakfast and lunch at school and 100% are on free or reduced lunch. The Conscious Cafeteria Project aims to provide lower-income families with access to healthier, more environmentally friendly options.
For more information about Ahimsa’s Conscious Cafeteria Project, visit ahimsahome.com.
Lilly to invest $600M in Marion County students – Indianapolis Recorder
Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
