How do the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program work?
School districts that choose to participate in the meal programs receive federal reimbursement and donated commodities from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for each meal they serve. In return, they must serve meals that meet Federal requirements, and they must offer free or reduced price meals to eligible children. 2. What are the nutritional requirements for school meals? The National School Lunch Act mandates that school meals “safeguard the health and well-being of the Nation’s children”. Participating schools must serve lunches that are consistent with the applicable recommendation of the most recent Dietary Guidlines for Americans including: eat a variety of foods; choose a diet with plenty of grain products, vegetables, and fruits; choose a diet moderate in sugars and salt; and choose a diet with 30% or less of calories from fat and less than 10% of calories from saturated fat. In addition, lunches must provide, on average over each school week, at least a third of the
Related Questions
- What policies or regulations must schools follow if they participate in the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program?
- What data source should I use for National School Lunch & Breakfast Program enrollment in my district’s schools?
- What is the National School Lunch Program? What is the School Breakfast Program?
