Some may think free school meals are a welfare issue, but they are so much more. Free school meals are a major investment in our country's future.
Nutrition and healthy diets are important parts of children's health. Obesity is one preventable diet-related disease that continues to affect too many children in the United States. The Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Report (PDF) describes how improving children's nutrition is a major priority. School meals may be one way to get there.
Children spend most of their time away from home in school, so schools are key to children's access to healthy meals. The federal school meals program is the best source of nutrition for all children regardless of household income, and it serves over 30 million kids.
Better access to healthier school meals may be one way to tackle children's diet and health issues.
Better access to healthier school meals may be one way to tackle children's diet and health issues. Children with obesity are more likely to have chronic disease, obesity, and even severe obesity in adulthood. In 2023, the National School Lunch Program cost $17 billion, a relatively small amount compared to the $4.5 trillion health care costs associated with nutrition-related diseases.
The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 increased nutritional school meal standards, significantly improving food quality and reducing students' poor-quality diets. It was also linked to improved body mass for children in low-income households. This shows how school meals can have a big impact on improving children's health, but more can be done.
First, increasing the nutritional standards of school meals that children will enjoy may improve children's diets even more. Second, investing in school facilities and food service, while at the same time providing universal free school meals nationally may ensure every child's breakfast and lunch is healthy.
Fueling all children with healthy meals can help them achieve optimal health and fitness, and it might boost the economy and national security. For example, reducing obesity may mean an increase in average earnings by 4.4 percent. The MAHA report highlights (PDF) the link between child health and military readiness, noting that 77 percent of youth aged 17–24 years are not qualified for military service without a waiver. Among those who do serve, the Department of Defense spends more than $1.5 billion each year in obesity-related costs and lost workdays. The National School Lunch Act of 1946 became policy “as a measure of national security (PDF).”
The impacts of raising nutritional standards, investing in school facilities, and implementing universal free school meals can help ensure that every child has access to healthy food. Free school meals may be a major critical investment in America's future.
