Nutrition & School Lunch

Students get lunch of homemade pizza and caesar salad at the Albert D. Lawton Intermediate School, in Essex Junction, Vt., Thursday, June 9, 2022. The pandemic-era federal aid that made school meals available for free to all public school students — regardless of family income levels — is ending, raising fears about the effects in the upcoming school year for families already struggling with rising food and fuel costs.
Students pick up their lunches at the Albert D. Lawton Intermediate School, in Essex Junction, Vt., earlier this year. The end of pandemic-era waivers that allowed all students to eat for free is having ripple effects on schools and their budgets.
Lisa Rathke/AP
Student Well-Being As Free School Meals End, School Nutrition Directors Brace for Challenges
After Congress failed to extend free school meal waivers last year, many families will have to start paying for lunch and breakfast again.
Libby Stanford, August 18, 2022
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4 min read
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Image of students in line for a school meal.
Legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives aims to tackle food insecurity through an overhaul of the federal child nutrition programs.
Lisa Rathke/AP
Student Well-Being Congressional Democrats Push to Expand Access to Free School Meals
It's the latest push to address expiring USDA waivers that permitted all students to eat for free regardless of income.
Libby Stanford, July 27, 2022
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4 min read
Conceptual Illustration of Government taking a big chunk of the money
DigitalVision Vectors/Getty
Education Funding 7 Ways the Federal Government Shortchanges K-12 Schools
Districts haven't gotten the help they need and expect on infrastructure, high-need students, special education, school meals, and more.
Mark Lieberman, July 12, 2022
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9 min read
Carl Hall, 8, drinks apple juice he received as part of a free bagged breakfast at the Jefferson County Upper Elementary School on March 3, 2021 in Fayette, Miss.
Carl Hall, 8, drinks apple juice he received as part of a free bagged breakfast at the Jefferson County Upper Elementary School on March 3, 2021 in Fayette, Miss.
Rogelio V. Solis/AP
Student Well-Being Bipartisan Bill Would Extend School Nutrition Flexibility, But Not Universal Free Meals
The proposal would help nutrition workers navigate supply-chain issues, inflation, and staffing shortages affecting school meal programs.
Libby Stanford, June 22, 2022
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3 min read
Girl holding food tray in school cafeteria
iStock/Getty Images Plus
Student Well-Being Free School Meal Waivers Are Ending Soon. What Educators Need to Know
The USDA waivers allowed all students to get free school meals and helped sustain cafeterias in the pandemic.
Libby Stanford, June 2, 2022
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4 min read
Norma Ordonez places a tray of grilled cheese sandwiches into an oven to warm as she prepares take-away lunches for students kept out of class because of the coronavirus at Richard Castro Elementary School early Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in west Denver.
Norma Ordonez places sandwiches into an oven to warm as she prepares take-away lunches for students at Richard Castro Elementary School in Denver in 2020.
David Zalubowski/AP
States Some States Want to Lock in Universal Free School Meals as Federal Waivers End
The pandemic-era waivers let students regardless of income get free school meals and drew wide use nationally.
Libby Stanford, May 31, 2022
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4 min read
Hand reaching into a potato chip snack foil bag for chips
iStock/Getty Images Plus
School Climate & Safety What the Research Says What a Researcher Learned From One School's Underground Snack Market
Cracking down on unofficial school snack sales can have unintended consequences.
Sarah D. Sparks, May 9, 2022
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5 min read
How a Group of Latino Parents Pressed Their School Meal Concerns
Student Well-Being Video Inside Latino Parents' Push for Healthy, Culturally Appropriate School Lunches
Parents in one Colorado district want to see the same improvements to school lunches that were achieved in a neighboring district.
Kaylee Domzalski, April 29, 2022
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1 min read
Damary Thumbnail
Student Well-Being Video A Parent Looks Back On a Successful District-Parent Collaboration
In one Colorado district, parents advocated for improved school meals, and succeeded in bringing about significant change.
Kaylee Domzalski, April 28, 2022
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2:41
Fighting for Food With a Video Campaign
Student Well-Being Video Fighting for Food With a Video Campaign
Feeling unheard, parents launched a video campaign to build support for their advocacy efforts around school lunches.
Kaylee Domzalski, April 28, 2022
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3:51
One Parent’s Approach to Advocacy Through Community
Families & the Community Video One Parent’s Approach to Advocacy Through Community
In advocating for the nutritional needs of her children, one parent has found strength in community.
Kaylee Domzalski, April 28, 2022
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3:08
How a Group of Latino Parents Pressed Their School Meal Concerns
Student Well-Being Video How a Group of Latino Parents Pressed Their School Meal Concerns
Parents have tried to convince this Colorado district to enhance its school meal menu, but navigating the process has come with challenges.
Kaylee Domzalski, April 28, 2022
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5:53
Nicole Rodriguez Holding Ground Beef
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Student Well-Being Sponsor Remove beef from school cafeterias? Not so fast, says this mom and registered dietician
What kids eat in the school cafeteria shapes their education, their health and their relationship with food throughout their lives.
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