Nutrition, Kidney Health, and Student Success - Recapping Our Council Conversation on Free School Meals

The Northwest Kidney Council team recently hosted our latest Council Conversation, featuring a cross-sector conversation on the connection between food access, school nutrition, and long-term kidney health.

Our panel brought together Oregon State Representative Dr. Cyrus Javadi and Washington-based renal dietitian Lara Sokoloff, RD. The conversation touched on key themes: the legislative path behind Oregon’s HB 3435, the real-life food access challenges faced by at-risk patients, and the importance of early nutrition education in shaping kidney health outcomes.

From policymaking to patient care, the panelists offered practical insights and a shared vision: a future where healthy meals are a given—not a privilege—and where early prevention helps reduce the need for dialysis down the line.

How school lunch legislation is tackling kidney disease before it starts

When a constituent asked Oregon State Representative Cyrus Javadi why the state hadn’t guaranteed school meals for all students, it sparked an idea. “I mean, when I first started, I didn’t realize that about 97 percent of the state already offered free or reduced school lunches,” Rep. Javadi said. “There was just this 3 percent gap that didn’t.”

That realization ultimately led to the introduction of HB 3435, legislation aimed at closing that 3% gap to ensure every student in Oregon, regardless of family income, has access to free school breakfast and lunch.

“I thought, let’s see if this is even possible,” he said. It turns out, not only is it possible—it’s essential for supporting and improving long-term health outcomes.

From classrooms to dialysis clinics

In communities where many students rely on school breakfast and lunch, those meals may be their only consistent source of nutrition. Rep. Javadi’s HB 3435 is more than a meal program, it’s necessary prevention.

“You can’t treat your way out of a bad diet,” said Rep. Javadi, who represents a rural district. “This is good pressure in the right direction.”

Laura, a renal dietitian who works with kidney patients, agrees. “I have a lot of younger patients who just don’t know what healthy eating looks like,” she said. “We need to start earlier. These habits matter.”

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) often stems from diabetes and hypertension. Two conditions heavily influenced by nutrition - which is something kids can learn, provided they are given the right opportunities. Free meals at school can serve as a model to establish kidney-friendly eating habits and a lifetime of healthy nutrition choices.

So why haven’t all schools done this already?

Until now, individual school districts had to apply for various grants to fund universal meals. Many didn’t have the staffing or expertise to do it. “This legislation removes that barrier,” Rep. Javadi said.

Moving forward

The Northwest Kidney Council is always inspired by conversations that connect the dots between legislation and kidney health. After hearing from Rep. Javadi and Laura about how school meals can shape lifelong habits, we’re committed to continuing to support free school meals in both Oregon and Washington. By ensuring every child has access to nutritious meals, we’re helping reduce the risk of kidney disease before it starts.

Watch the full recording below: