Are School Meals Healthy For Schoolchildren At A School To Eat?

The system of school meals started in 1946 but did not gain widespread recognition until much later. As late as the 1980s, it was still pretty common for children to bring a lunchbox to school. That's mostly a thing of the past now, and the vast majority of children participate in the school lunch program. For children living under the poverty line, school meals are free. Others might need to pay either a reduced price or full price, depending on the family's financial situation.

USDA Requirements

The USDA Food and Nutrition Service fact sheet has set guidelines to define what a healthy school meal is and is not. One of the most basic requirements is that school meals cannot be more than 30 percent fat. Of the total calorie content of a meal, less than 10 percent can come from saturated fat. The guidelines also ensure that kids get at least 30 percent of their daily requirements for certain vitamins, calcium and iron.

Freedom of Choice

Although the overall choice of meals is healthy, there's one problem: choice. In most schools, children are allowed to choose. Thus, they can pick only high-fat snacks or sodas and skip all the healthy options. Schools also have freedom regarding how to cook and prepare their foods, so could technically use lots of white flour, oils and full-fat dairy products in the preparation process. Some states have their own regulations regarding school lunches. For example, Idaho prohibits all school meals from being deep fried. The state also has laws requiring at least three servings of whole grains and one serving of beans every week.

Criticism

Some experts do not agree that school meals are healthy. According to the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, school lunches are too high in fats and animal protein. The organization, which promotes vegetarian eating, believes the USDA food pyramid has vested interests and ties with the agricultural industry. As a result, it recommends more meat and saturated fat than children should be eating.

Special Programs

The USDA has two special school-lunch programs in effect. One is the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP), which ensures that children in all schools have access to fruits and vegetables as either snacks or side dishes during lunch. Children who do not participate in any school lunch program also have access to a free milk program.