School Meals

At a glance

  • All students can participate in school meal programs, and some students are eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals.
  • Federal school meal programs include the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program to give students access to meals.
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture and state agencies administer meal programs and reimburse schools for providing healthy meals to students.
Student in line of a school cafeteria.

Meal programs available when students are out of school

Programs offer financial support to provide children and youth, specifically from low-income areas, with nutritious snacks and meals. Examples include the:

  • National School Lunch Program’s Afterschool Snack Service, the At-Risk Afterschool Meals component of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).
  • Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).

School food service departments have experience following food safety and nutrition guidelines. This makes them strong candidates for serving as a sponsor for CACFP or SFSP.

Benefits of school meals

School meals are nutritious: research shows benefits when students participate in the school meal programs. The students consume more whole grains, milk, fruits, and vegetables during mealtimes—and have better overall diet quality—than nonparticipants. And eating breakfast at school is associated with better attendance rates, fewer missed school days, and better test scores. Meals served through these programs must meet specific nutrition requirements which include fruit, vegetables, and whole grains.

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

  • Providing meals that are nutritious and appealing.
  • Getting 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 (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.

Healthy School Meals for All

The Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) recommends Healthy School Meals for All. The aim is to increase participation in federal school meal programs and reduce school absenteeism. Healthy School Meals for All is expected to advance health equity by enabling students from lower income households to access free and healthy foods.

Resources

CDC | School Meals Toolkit

Institute of Child Nutrition | tools and trainings

Alliance for a Healthier Generation | resources for school meals

FoodCorps

CDC | School Health Guidelines to Promote Healthy Eating and Physical Activity

USDA | Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act Implementation Research Brief Series

At-Risk Afterschool Meals Component of CACFP

National School Lunch Program Afterschool Snack Service

Summer Food Service Program

No Kid Hungry Center for Best Practices

FRAC | Resource Library

Print
Content Source:
Division of Adolescent and School Health; National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP)
  • Fox MK, Gearan E, Cabili C, et al. School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study, Final Report Volume 4: Student Participation, Satisfaction, Plate Waste, and Dietary Intakes. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Office of Policy Support; 2019. https://www.fns.usda.gov/school-nutrition-and-meal-cost-study
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