Should School Lunches Be Better?

School lunch is critical to student health and well-being, especially for low-income students—and ensures that students have nutrition they need throughout the day to learn. Research shows that receiving free or reduced-price school lunches reduces food insecurity, obesity rates, and poor health.

Should schools have more lunch choices?

Improved Nutrition

Students who eat school lunch are more likely to consume more fruits, vegetables and milk than those who don't participate. ... Offering a wider variety of fruits and vegetables makes it more likely students will find an option they are willing to eat.

Are school lunches healthier than packed lunches?

Current research has found school lunches are typically a healthier option than lunches brought from home. A recent study compared school meals and packed lunches for pre-K and kindergarten students across three (3) schools. ... School lunches contained higher amounts of protein, sodium, fiber, vitamin A, and calcium.