Importance of School Meal Programs
History of the School Meal Program
Congress created the National School Lunch Program in 1946 as a measure of “national security” after an investigation into the health of young men rejected in the World War II draft showed a connection between physical deficiencies and childhood malnutrition. The School Breakfast Program (SBP) was added—first as a pilot program in 1966 in areas where children had long bus rides to school and also in places where many mothers were in the workforce. In 1975, SBP became a permanent entitlement program to assist schools in providing nutritious morning meals to children. The National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs make it possible for all school children in the U.S. to receive at least two nutritious meals every school day.
Needed Nutrition
The meals served are designed to meet the nutritional needs of growing children. Since 1996, school meals must meet the Dietary Guidelines for Healthy Americans which requires low levels of fat and sodium. USDA research indicates that children who participate in school meals receive far more nutrients than those children who do not participate. Children who eat school breakfast eat more fruits, drink more milk, and consume less saturated fat than those who don’t eat breakfast or have breakfast at home. Studies have shown that children who participate in school meals also are less likely to be overweight or obese.
More Than a Good Meal
Many children do not eat a nutritious breakfast or lunch. Often families are living on very tight budgets and can't afford to consistently provide nutritious food at home. Sometimes children are not physically capable of eating breakfast when they first wake up and do not eat enough to last them until lunch. Other children may eat breakfast very early or have long commutes to school, making breakfast at school an important option. School breakfast has repeatedly been shown to reduce problem behaviors and improve children’s focus and academic performance. Research also shows that children who eat close to the time of learning have better memory and problem-solving skills, and score higher on tests.
|
