Free school lunches

In the United States, the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides free or reduced-price lunches to children from low-income families. The program has been in operation since 1946 and has served billions of meals to students. In recent years, there has been a growing movement to expand the NSLP to provide free lunches to all students, regardless of family income.

There are many reasons to support free school lunches for all students. First, it is a matter of equity. All children deserve to have access to healthy and nutritious food, regardless of their family's financial situation. Second, free school lunches can help to improve student health and academic performance. Research has shown that students who eat school lunches are more likely to be at a healthy weight, have better attendance, and perform better in school. Third, free school lunches can help to reduce the stigma associated with receiving reduced-price lunches. Currently, children who receive free or reduced-price lunches often have to go through a separate line to receive their meals or have their names displayed on a public list. This can lead to stigma and embarrassment, which can discourage students from eating school lunch. Free school lunches would eliminate this stigma and ensure that all students can eat a healthy meal without feeling ashamed.

There are some concerns about the cost of providing free school lunches to all students, but these concerns are outweighed by the benefits. The NSLP is a relatively small program, costing only about $12 billion per year in 2019. The benefits of free school lunches, such as improved student health and academic performance, far outweigh the costs.

Free school lunches are a positive investment in our children's future. They help to ensure that all students have access to healthy and nutritious food, which can improve student health, academic performance, and reduce stigma.

If you are interested in supporting free school lunches for all students, there are several things you can do. You can contact your local elected officials and let them know your support for the program. You can also volunteer your time at your child's school to help with the lunch program. And you can make a donation to an organization that supports free school lunches.

Together, we can create a future where all students have access to healthy and nutritious food.