Rep. Sanchez introduces legislation
to require all students take nutrition classes

STATE HOUSE – Rep. Enrique Sanchez has introduced legislation (2023 H-5251) that would require all public high schools in the state to provide students with nutrition, food preparation and cooking courses annually.

“The health of our community is so important, it impacts every aspect of our lives from health care to the ability to work,” Representative Sanchez (D-Dist. 9, Providence) said. “As an educator myself, I see how kids just go to Burger King for lunch instead of eating healthy food because that’s the habit they know. We can help change that.”

Currently, RIDE does not require any nutrition, food preparation or cooking courses. By adding such instruction to the curriculum, Representative Sanchez hopes students will gain valuable life and job skills that will help them lead healthier lives.

“I think our whole curriculum needs to focus more on life and job skills. We need more hands-on career-based opportunities for kids,” Representative Sanchez said. “We can fold this into what kids are already learning. They could learn about history, culture or chemistry through cooking and food, while learning to eat healthy at the same time.”