School Meals

What Are School Meal Programs?

Many schools provide students with access to meals through federal school meal programs including the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program. These programs are administered by the United States Department of Agriculture and state agencies by reimbursing schools for providing healthy meals to students.

Who Can Participate in School Meal Programs?

All students can participate in school meal programs, and some students are eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals.

Benefits of School Meals

Research shows that students who participate in the school meal programs consume more milk, fruits, and vegetables during meal times and have better intake of certain nutrients, such as calcium and fiber, than nonparticipants.^1,2 And, eating breakfast at school is associated with better attendance rates, fewer missed school days, and better test scores.^3–6 Meals served through these programs must meet specific nutrition requirements [PDF – 6.4MB]. These requirements were revised in 2012 to include more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and decrease the amount of sodium and trans fat.

Schools can encourage students to participate in the school meal programs by

• Providing meals that are nutritious and appealing
• Obtaining input from students and parents about items they would like to see served in the meals
• Ensuring that students have adequate time to eat their meal (i.e., at least 10 minutes for breakfast and 20 minutes for lunch)
• Preventing the overt identification of students who are eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals