Burger with a blue and white design, likely made of bread and beef patty.

Meals for Minds: Feeding the Future with Real Food

Every day, school lunchrooms across America serve over 3 billion meals, making our nation’s schools the largest fast-food chain in the country. But unlike the drive-thru, these meals are shaping young minds. Unfortunately, corporate deals with the USDA are filling school trays with highly processed foods like Lunchables made from refined flour, sugar, and seed oils.

These ultra-processed ingredients hijack satiety signals, disrupt metabolism, and harm the cellular health that growing brains depend on. The result is kids who are tired, distracted, and nutrient-starved when they should be thriving.

70%
Of a child's diet is ultra processed food
30%
Of teens now have prediabetes
50%
Of children are overweight or obese
Source Casey Means, Stanford University School of Medicine

At Homestead Natural Meats, we believe the foundation of a healthy mind starts with what’s on the plate. That is why we created Meals for Minds, a partnership with the Delta County School District to bring local, high-nutrition beef and pork directly into school lunches.

Why It Matters

Children consume up to half of their daily calories at school, meaning the food served there has a lifelong impact. Real, whole, nutrient-rich foods:

  • Support healthy weight and energy levels
  • Build stronger immune systems and sharper focus
  • Provide the proteins and micronutrients essential for brain development

As Delta Health dietitian Jaleesa Dzizak explains, “If a child isn’t getting enough high-quality protein, they may appear tired, unfocused, and crave sugar. It’s not behavior, it’s biology.”

Local Food. Local Kids. Local Change.

Meals for Minds began with a simple idea: local ranchers feeding local students. Together with our 9 family ranches and community partners, we now sponsor one lunch per week for the entire school district, serving over 64,000 meals so far.

And this is just the beginning. With continued support, we will expand the program to include local fruits and vegetables, connecting kids not just to good food, but to the land and people who grow it.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Local Livestock Producers

  • Donate a beef or pig in the 2024-2025 school year and Homestead will process the donated portion for free.
  • Call us at (970) 546-0701 for more information on how to donate.

Consumers & Companies

  • Buy a whole or half beef or pig from Homestead and donate it.
  • Cash donations to the Delta County School District 50J.
  • Call us at (970) 546-0701 for more information on how to donate.

4H Livestock Buyers

  • Process your 4H Livestock animal at Homestead and 5% of your fee will go to the Meals for Minds program.
  • Donate a buy-back animal and Homestead will process the donated portion for free.

Local fruit & Produce Producers

  • If you are a local Fruit & Vegetable producer and would like to get involved in Meals for Minds, please contact Jeri Main 970-874-4438.

Meals For Minds Sponsors

Black zodiac sign taurus pendant necklace

Stirrup Bar Ranch

Red and white striped flag with navy blue shield logo.

VM West

White bucket truck with large aerial lift arm

Lightworks

Yellow reflective safety vest with black text and logo.

Rotary Club of the North Fork Valley

Delta health

Red plaid coat with black buttons and pockets, made of wool.

United Business Bank

Vintage wooden cradle with intricate carvings and a green painted finish.

Ken & Paula Norell

Frequently Asked Questions About the Meals for Minds Program

Meals for Minds is a partnership between Homestead Natural Meats and the Delta County School District that provides real, nutrient rich, locally raised beef and pork for school lunches. It was created to counter the growing reliance on ultra processed foods in school cafeterias. These foods can disrupt metabolism, impair satiety signals, and weaken cognitive function. Meals for Minds gives children access to whole foods that support energy, focus, immune health, and brain development.

The program currently sponsors one high quality protein based lunch per week for the entire Delta County School District. So far, more than 64,000 meals have been served. With continued community support, the program plans to expand to include local fruits and vegetables in addition to beef and pork.

Protein provides the building blocks for muscles, bones, hormones, and brain function. Children who do not get enough high quality protein may feel tired, struggle with focus, and crave sugary or processed foods. According to local dietitians, these behaviors often reflect nutritional deficiencies rather than discipline issues. Real protein helps stabilize blood sugar, improve energy levels, and support long term metabolic and cognitive health.

Local livestock producers can donate a beef or pig, which Homestead will process at no cost for the portion donated to schools. Families and companies can donate cash or purchase an entire or half animal from Homestead and donate it to the district. Anyone interested can call the program coordinator at (970) 546 0701. Local 4H buyers can also support the program through processing fees or by donating buy back animals.

Yes. As the program expands, Meals for Minds seeks to include more locally grown produce in school meals. Fruit and vegetable growers who wish to participate can contact Jeri Main at the Delta County School District at 970 874 4438 to learn how to get involved. The long term goal is to create a school nutrition system that reflects the full abundance of Western Colorado agriculture.