A school lunch program is an organized initiative that provides meals to students during the school day to support food access, dietary intake, and child health. Programs may offer free, subsidized, or paid lunches and may be universal or targeted to students who meet specified eligibility criteria. Their design typically includes arrangements for meal funding, food procurement, preparation, distribution, and nutritional standards. Depending on the program, meals may be intended to supply a meaningful share of students’ daily energy and nutrient requirements, improve access to nutritious foods, and reduce hunger during school hours [1][2]. School lunch programs are a component of school feeding and school health initiatives, but differ in scope from broader school nutrition programs that may also include breakfast, nutrition education, food environment policies, and health services [2][3]. Their nutritional and public health relevance depends on meal quality, participation, accessibility, and the dietary and socioeconomic circumstances of students.
- school meals
- child nutrition
- school feeding
- food security
- dietary quality
References
- Lamis H Jomaa; Elaine McDonnell; Claudia Probart; School feeding programs in developing countries: impacts on children's health and educational outcomes. Nutr. Rev. 2011, 69, 83-98, 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2010.00369.x.
- Juliana F. W. Cohen; Amelie A. Hecht; Gabriella M. McLoughlin; Lindsey Turner; Marlene B. Schwartz; Universal School Meals and Associations with Student Participation, Attendance, Academic Performance, Diet Quality, Food Security, and Body Mass Index: A Systematic Review. Nutrients 2021, 13, 911, 10.3390/nu13030911.
- World Health Organization. (2021). Nutrition Action in Schools: A Review of Evidence Related to the Nutrition-Friendly Schools Initiative. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241516969