healthy school lunch essay

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Personal Health

Feeding Young Minds: The Importance of School Lunches

By Jane E. Brody

• June 5, 2017

Harding Senior High, a public school in St. Paul, Minn., has long been known as a 90-90-90 school: 90 percent of students are minorities, nearly 90 percent come from poor or struggling families and, until recently, 90 percent graduate (now about 80 percent) to go on to college or a career.

Impressive statistics, to be sure. But perhaps most amazing about this school is that it recognizes and acts on the critical contribution that adequate food and good nutrition make to academic success. Accordingly, it provides three balanced meals a day to all its students, some of whom might otherwise have little else to eat on school days.

For those who can’t get to school in time for early breakfast, a substitute meal is offered after first period, to be eaten during the second period. Every student can pick up dinner at the end of the school day, and those who play sports after school can take the dinner with them to practices and games.

To Jennifer Funkhauser, a French teacher at Harding and a hands-on participant in the meal program, making sure the students are well fed is paramount to their ability to succeed academically. Ms. Funkhauser and the staff at Harding are well aware of the many studies showing that children who are hungry or malnourished have a hard time learning.

After she noticed that some youngsters were uncomfortable eating with hundreds of others in a large, noisy lunchroom, Ms. Funkhauser created a more private, quieter “lunch bunch” option for them.

The attitude and atmosphere at Harding are in stark contrast to the humiliating lunchroom experiences suffered by students at some schools, where youngsters are sometimes shamed in front of their classmates and their meals confiscated and dumped in the garbage when parents have an unpaid lunch bill.

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Benefits of School Lunch

School lunch is critical to student health and well-being, especially for low-income students—and ensures that students have nutrition they need throughout the day to learn. Research shows that receiving free or reduced-price school lunches reduces food insecurity, obesity rates, and poor health. In addition, the new school meal nutrition standards are having a positive impact on student food selection and consumption, especially for fruits and vegetables.

Quick Facts

• Reimbursable meals must meet federal nutrition standards. National School Lunch Program lunches provide one-third or more of the recommended levels for key nutrients.
• Reimbursable meals must provide no more than 30 percent of calories from fat and less than 10 percent of calories from saturated fat.
• New nutrition standards phased in since the 2012-2013 school year required schools to increase whole grains, fruits, and vegetables served through the National School Lunch Program.

School Lunch Participation:

• According to one estimate using national data, receiving free or reduced-price school lunches reduces food insecurity by at least 3.8 percent.
• Among a sample of low-income children entering kindergarten, receiving a free or reduced-price school lunch reduces the probability of household food insecurity at school entry, whereas paying full price for school lunch is associated with a higher probability of household food insecurity.
• Rates of food insecurity among children are higher in the summer — a time when many do not have access to the good nutrition provided by the school meal programs available during the academic year.
• Children participating in school meals are less likely to have nutrient inadequacies and are more likely to consume fruit, vegetables, and milk at breakfast and lunch.
• Low-income students who eat both school breakfast and lunch have significantly better overall diet quality than low-income students who do not eat school meals.
• The new school meal nutrition standards are having a positive impact on student food selection and consumption, especially for fruits and vegetables.
• Packed lunches brought from home by pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students have more calories, fat, saturated fat, and sugar than school lunches, and less protein, fiber, vitamin A, and calcium, according to a study conducted after implementation of the new school meal nutrition standards.
• Few packed lunches and snacks brought from home meet National School Lunch Program standards.
• Participation in federally-funded child care nutrition or school meals provided in child care, preschool, school, or summer settings is associated with a significantly lower body mass index (BMI) among young, low-income children. These findings lead researchers to conclude that “subsidized meals at school or day care are beneficial for children’s weight status, and we argue that expanding access to subsidized meals may be the most effective tool to use in combating obesity in poor children.”
• Based on national data, economists estimate that the receipt of a free or reduced-price school lunch reduces obesity rates by at least 17 percent.
• Receiving free or reduced-price school lunches reduces poor health by at least 29 percent based on estimates using national data.
• Behavioral, emotional, and mental health, and academic problems are more prevalent among children and adolescents struggling with hunger.
• Children and adolescents experiencing hunger have lower math scores and poorer grades.
• Children experiencing hunger are more likely to be hyperactive, absent, and tardy, in addition to having behavioral and attention problems more often than other children.
• Teens experiencing hunger are more likely to have been suspended from school and have difficulty getting along with other children.
• Children with hunger are more likely to have repeated a grade, received special education services, or received mental health counseling, than low-income children who do not experience hunger.

Research Brief Shows That School Breakfast and Lunch Programs Continue to Have Multiple Positive Effects on Students’ Health, Learning, and Well-Being

Read the brief

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Millions of college students will return to campus worrying about hitting the books on an empty stomach. A recent report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) highlights the prevalence of food insecurity among college students and underscores the critical role that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) plays in supporting student success.

This week, the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) released Hunger Doesn’t Take a Vacation: Summer Nutrition Status Report. The report finds that just over 2.8 million children received a lunch through the Summer Nutrition Programs on an average day in July 2023, a decrease of 170,926 children from July 2022.

The summer of 2023 marked the return to normal operations for most summer meals sites, after the end of the nationwide pandemic-era waivers. These waivers allowed summer meals sites to operate in every community, and provided operational flexibilities, including a non-congregate waiver for families to pick up meals to take home instead of children eating meals at the site.

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Why School Lunches in America Are Unhealthy and 10 Ways You Can Take Action to Improve Them

We all have a stake in making school lunches healthier. Learn what you can do…

Debates about school lunch have been going on for more than a century. Learn why school lunches in America have a terrible reputation and how you can help make a difference.

School lunch matters — for better learning and academic performance, for improved behavior and performance at school, for the overall health of kids, and much more.

In fact, school meals can have tremendous impacts on the next generation, the future of a country, and maybe even the future of our world .

The State of School Lunches In America

In the U.S., school lunches have a terrible reputation.

A 2009 investigation by USA Today found that meat served in U.S. schools wouldn’t meet the quality or safety standards of fast-food restaurants. And according to the book Lunch Lessons , almost half the vegetables eaten by most children aged 2 to 19 in the U.S. were French fries.

Although America’s school lunches have improved since Congress strengthened the standards for the national school lunch program in 2010, they have a long way to go.

Most menus now include more whole grains and more fruit and vegetable options and less salt. But they also offer an abundance of factory-farmed animal products and heavily processed foods, like corn dogs, tater tots, and cheese pizza.

But School Lunches Can Improve

Programs exist to help improve food at schools, and some schools are taking bold, inspiring steps. Parents, educators, students, and everyone can take action to help students have access to healthier foods.

As Ocean Robbins says in his upcoming book 31-Day Food Revolution , “ As long as tens of millions of families depend on school meals for a fundamental part of daily nutrition, we all have a stake in making them healthier. ”

As long as tens of millions of families depend on school meals for a fundamental part of daily nutrition, we all have a stake in making them healthier. Ocean Robbins

Why Are School Lunches in America Unhealthy?

Many countries around the world serve school lunch for students. In America, midday meals have been a fixture in education for more than 70 years.

A variety of factors contribute to the school lunches in the U.S. today. Here are some of them:

The National School Lunch Program provides low-cost or free school lunches to 31 million students at more than 100,000 public and private schools per day. Meals must meet nutritional standards based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Participating schools receive approximately $1.30 to spend for each child. This amount must cover the food, as well as any labor, equipment, electricity, and other costs. School food programs also depend on income from students who often pay for the food they eat.

Tight budgets make serving healthier foods challenging .

The USDA Foods Program

The United States Department of Agriculture purchases hundreds of millions of dollars worth of agricultural products and gives them to schools for free. (The government does this to stabilize food prices and to ensure demand for the country’s agricultural goods.)

Free food may sound good, especially when funding is so limited. But in 2015 , 64% of the program’s spending went to meat , dairy , and egg products . Virtually all these products came from factory farms.

The School Milk Program

Why does almost every school lunch include milk? Because milk in schools has been federally subsidized since 1940 .

In the 2013-14 school year, more than $20 million taxpayer dollars were spent directly by the USDA on dairy product subsidies that went into child nutrition programs, including school lunch.

Even though most schools now ban sodas and other sugary beverages, chocolate milk still gets a pass . A single serving of chocolate milk contains between four and six teaspoons of sugar.

And there are many reasons why all this milk might not be the healthiest option for our kids.

Unhealthy School Vendors

Some schools have given contracts to food management companies to manage the food offered to students. In these cases, the companies have the purchasing power — not the schools.

The contracting most often goes to one of three main corporations: Aramark, Compass Group, and Sodexo. These companies are in business to make money, and it seems that children’s health isn’t always their top priority.

Why the Quality of School Lunches Matters for Students

Children consume up to 50% of their daily calories at school. And for low-income children, lunch may be the only real meal of the day.

Here are seven reasons to feed kids healthy, well-balanced meals:

1) Better Learning and Memory

As studies show, children who are hungry or undernourished are unable to focus and have a hard time learning .

According to a 2008 study published in Nature Reviews Neuroscience , diets with high levels of saturated fats may impair learning and memory . Many foods commonly served during school lunch, such as French fries, cheeseburgers, and chicken nuggets, are loaded with saturated fat.

When kids get adequate nutrition, they are sick fewer days and don’t need to miss school, which can lead to improved performance.

A 2011 study published in the Journal of Health Economics showed that when Greenwich switched from low-budget processed meals towards healthier options, educational outcomes improved and authorized absences fell by 14% .

2) Improved Concentration

Deficiencies in vitamins and minerals are shown to diminish cognitive abilities and mental concentration . Many school lunches are low in the fruits, vegetables, and whole foods that provide an abundance of vitamins and minerals.

3) Better Overall Health

A 2008 study published in the Journal of School Health found that effective school nutrition programs “have the potential to improve student’s diet quality, academic performance, and, over the long term, their health .”

4) Better Behavior and Fewer Problems

A series of studies in the 1980s removed chemical additives and processed food, and reduced levels of sugar, in the diets of more than 8,000 juvenile delinquents in 12 correctional facilities.

What was the result? Problem behaviors fell 47% .

Similarly, in Virginia, 300 particularly hardened juvenile delinquents were put on a diet with no chemical additives and little sugar for two years. During that time, incidences of theft fell 77%, insubordination dropped 55%, and hyperactivity went down by 65% .

Also, in 2008, a comprehensive analysis from the Harvard School of Public Health concluded that students with access to nutritious meals had lower rates of aggression and disciplinary problems .

5) Better Academic Performance

According to a study conducted at the University of California at Berkeley, students who eat healthier school lunches achieve higher standardized test scores .

And a 2008 study published in the Journal of School Health found an association between higher quality diets and better performance on exams .

6) Reducing Obesity

Obesity rates among children nearly tripled from 1970 to 2000. And according to a 2017 projection published in The New England Journal of Medicine , most 2-year-olds in America today will develop obesity by the time they turn 35 . But could school lunches help reduce obesity?

A 2013 study published in JAMA Pediatrics showed that children residing in states with stringent nutritional standards for school meals had lower rates of obesity than those states with more lax regulations.

And a 2018 nationwide study conducted in Japan and published in the Journal of Public Health concluded that “Appropriate nutritional intake through school lunch may be effective to reduce childhood obesity.” (Japan has a relatively low childhood obesity rate and one of the world’s most successful nationwide school lunch programs.)

7) Better Habits for the Future

Researchers say that the eating patterns kids develop early in life typically follow them into adulthood.

A group of Canadian researchers said: “ If children are to learn to prefer and select healthy foods, they need early, positive, repeated experiences with those foods. ”

Federal Changes to Make American School Lunches Healthier

In 2010, Congress adopted the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act — the first significant change to school meal nutrition in more than 15 years .

If children are to learn to prefer and select healthy foods, they need early, positive, repeated experiences with those foods.

The standards went into effect in 2012, with schools that met the new criteria receiving additional funding. And federal funding for school lunches increased — by about six cents per meal — for the first time in more than three decades.

Schools are now required to:

• Offer fruit daily at breakfast and lunch
• Offer vegetables daily at lunch
• Increase the amount of whole grains
• Require students to select either a fruit or vegetable with each meal
• Reduce the sodium content of meals
• Only offer fat-free or low-fat milk varieties
• Create grade-specific limits on total calories
• Remove trans fats

Researchers who examined 1.7 million meals in an urban Washington State school district found that the overall nutritional quality of meals increased by 29% after the standards took effect .

Problems Faced by School Lunch Programs

But despite these improvements, many nutritional experts still find school lunches to be inadequate. Most meals aren’t prepared from scratch and don’t use fresh fruits and vegetables . Instead, foods are frozen or made elsewhere and then heated before serving. This food preparation creates meals that are far from fresh and, sadly, unappealing.

And the new federal administration is scaling back the updated school meal nutrition requirements, which could lead to less nutritious foods in many schools.

10 Ways You Can Help Improve School Food

Even though it can feel daunting to get involved, simple steps can have meaningful impacts on improving food in schools .

You may want to start by educating yourself about your school’s food-service program by checking the district’s or school’s website.

And here are some ideas for taking action to improve school meals:

Show your support for healthy school lunches in your community .

You can set up a meeting with your local school district’s Food Service Director (or your school superintendent) to find out what changes are already in progress and to see how you can help.

Be an advocate for healthier food in your school district .

The Chef Ann Foundation has a parent advocacy toolkit . Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine has a healthy school lunch campaign . They offer resources for schools, parents, and schools.

Start a farm-to-school program .

You can find some suggestions from Kids Health here .

Get a school garden in a school .

You can find helpful guides and resources from The Lunch Box here .

Start Meatless Mondays in a school.

Foodservice workers can use this guide from Meatless Monday. Students, parents, and staff can use this ambassador guide from Meatless Monday.

Advocate for more plant-based options .

You can try encouraging a school to offer one plant-based entree per day by sharing recipes and testing them with staff. Amie Hamlin, the executive director of the New York Coalition for Healthy School Food, which offers 13 plant-based, kid-approved recipes , suggests this idea to make an impact

Help increase nutrition education in a school .

You can help implement the Coalition for Healthy School Food’s Wellness Wakeup Call , which provides schools and classrooms with daily, healthy eating tips that can be read in classrooms and over PA systems. This program is free for schools in New York, but out-of-state schools can use it for a small fee.

Advocate for lunchtimes that are long enough for students to get to eat.

You can advocate for lunches that are at least 30 minutes long and for scheduling recess before lunch. Research backs up these changes for getting kids to eat more fruits and veggies. The Peaceful Playgrounds Foundation has resources to help lengthen lunches.

Contact elected officials.

You can support legislation and funding that promote healthier school lunches. Contact your elected officials and let them know why healthy school lunches matter. Call to schedule a meeting with your member of Congress to speak out for federal change, with local school board members, or with a school board superintendent to take action locally. You can sign up for action alerts from the School Nutrition Associate Action Network to stay informed and engaged about school nutrition policy issues.

Students can take action, too .

The School Nutrition Association has 10 tips for students who want to make a difference in the school cafeteria.

What If School Lunches Around the World Encouraged Healthy Eating Behaviors?

Children’s bodies and brains are still developing — and the habits and attitudes they’ll carry with them throughout life are being formed.

Healthy, balanced school lunches could lead to better health and better academic performance for students. They could lead to reduced aggression, hyperactivity, and other problems. And they could help break the cycles that trap low-income children in poor health.

Healthy school lunches could also help reverse childhood obesity trends, which lead to type 2 diabetes and other chronic illness. And they could contribute to a healthier and more productive future for the next generation.

As former President Harry S. Truman said when signing the National School Lunch Act: “ No nation is any healthier than its children or more prosperous than its farmers. ”

Tell us in the comments:

What are your experiences with school lunch, how will you take action.

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The learning network | do you think a healthier school lunch program is a lost cause.

Do You Think a Healthier School Lunch Program Is a Lost Cause?

Questions about issues in the news for students 13 and older.

• See all Student Opinion »

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 requires school lunch programs to serve healthier food: fewer calories and starches, more fruits and vegetables. At some high schools students have protested the changes using Twitter, Facebook and YouTube . Do you think a healthier school lunch program is a lost cause — or can school lunches be both healthy and tasty?

In “No Appetite for Good-for-You School Lunches,” Vivian Yee writes:

Outside Pittsburgh, they are proclaiming a strike, taking to Twitter and Facebook to spread the word. In a village near Milwaukee, hundreds staged a boycott. In a small farming and ranching community in western Kansas, they have produced a parody video. And in Parsippany, N.J., the protest is six days old and counting. They are high school students, and their complaint is about lunch — healthier, smaller and more expensive than ever. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, which required public schools to follow new nutritional guidelines this academic year to receive extra federal lunch aid, has created a nationwide version of the age-old parental challenge: persuading children to eat what is good for them. Because the lunches must now include fruits and vegetables, those who clamor for more cheese-laden nachos may find string beans and a peach cup instead. Because of limits on fat and sodium, some of those who crave French fries get baked sweet-potato wedges. Because of calorie restrictions, meat and carbohydrate portions are smaller. Gone is 2-percent chocolate milk, replaced by skim.

Students: Do you think a healthier school lunch program is a lost cause — or can school lunches be both healthy and tasty?

• What kinds of foods does your school cafeteria serve for lunch?
• Do you eat your school lunch? Do you eat some foods, but not others?
• Have you noticed a change in the school lunch offerings recently, in response to the new policy?
• What recommendations do you have to improve your school lunches, so they are more nutritious and tasty?

Students 13 and older are invited to comment below. Please use only your first name. For privacy policy reasons, we will not publish student comments that include a last name.

Teachers: We ask a new Student Opinion question each weekday, and leave most open to comment indefinitely. Here is a list of the 163 questions we asked during the 2011-12 school year.

Comments are no longer being accepted.

In my opinion, the healthy lunch food program is a lost hope because of the enconomy and lack of funding. I’ve been in the school lunch program for 10 years and there has been little to no change in the quality of the food. Our school serves multiple things (pizza,cheese burger, ext.) but not even hunger will drive me to eat those things. I only eat the chicken burger there because that is the only thing that actually taste like what it is. The pizza taste bad, and so do the burgers and whatever there serving for the main dish. My recommendations to improve school lunchs are better quality food, and mabye something healthy that dosn’t taste like eating cardboard (like most of the stuff at our lunch).

Perhaps the schools could use the flat roofs on top of their buildings to create green spaces where they could grow vegetables. Something like that might help offset the costs and the students could learn what fresh food is and where it comes from. The extra food could be either canned, frozen for the winter, donated to food shelters or sold in farmer’s markets.

I think that we should still have school lunches.Please do not take this right away for free choice.

My school’s cafeteria serves pizza, cheeseburgers, and lots of other unhealthy food. They also serve salad which is the healthy part of the cafeteria. I seldom eat school lunch because I do not want to eat a lunch at 10:30 in the morning. The times that I do buy school lunch, I would usually get pizza but it is very greasy so I would have to wipe a napkin over it to absorb some grease.

I think a healthy school lunch is a lost cause. You cannot have an inexpensive lunch that tastes good and is up to par on health standards. Our school has the usual; pizza, pasta, ect. I do eat my school lunch and I am picky about what I eat, the meatballs are not touched, by me anyways. Our school is a new school so there hasn’t been much change but I have seen a change in amount they serve since elementary school. I think the standards need to be re-written to accommodate more food that is healthy and not have ridiculous percentages of fat, protein, and carbohydrate.

I bring in my own lunch rather than eat school lunch so I don’t really know what the cafeteria serves. I know that we serve salads, pizza, and a few other things, but that’s about all I know. I remember back in middle school, they rarely served healthy things so I started bringing in my own lunch. I would just suggest serving fruit salads and other healthy, but tasty foods.

I think that school lunches can be both healthy and tasty if you make the right decision on what to have. For instance, if your school is serving salad, you can have your favorite salad dressing on it and it will still be very healthy. The dressing would make it very tasty to you at the same time. Now lunches like pizza may be unhealthy but tasty, so it may still be okay to have but only every once in a while.

I would hope that we could be able to make school lunches both healthy and tasty. The main issue of these lunches is that the students do not get enough to eat and become very tired at after school events such as sports.

My school gives us a healthy lunch ever day. We are lucky enough to have a chef that cooks us our lunch everyday. I do eat my school lunch. I eat most of the food that they serve at my school because it is all good and healthy. I have not noticed a change in my school lunch offering because we have always gotten a healthy lunch. I don’t have any recommendations to my school for our lunches to be better. I think that my school lunch should stay the same way it is.

I think that a healthier school lunch program is a lost cause. It is spending money that we don’t have for a lunch with fruits and vegetables that we just throw away.

I do not think that school lunches can be healthy and at the same time be good tasting. In order for this to happen lunches would either be too complicated for lunch or be too expensive for lunch. There’s a reason fast food is unhealthy, unhealthy foods take less time to make generally. My school serves pizza and sandwiches along with a few other options. It seems that my school probably has the best foods that i have ever had in a school. I do eat my school lunch but not all the time, some of it is kind of gross. I have not noticed a difference in school lunches in the past few years. I do not know how to make my school lunches both healthy and tasty.

I do not think a healthier school lunch program is a lost cost. Public schools can change what they serve to the kids, and if they do not like what they are getting served, they can pack there own lunch. It’s not like people are making kids eat food they don’t want to eat, so why not make it healthier !

Honestly I believe that a healthier school lunch will not happen from an economic standpoint. As these food supply companies are a major supplier across the country. My school lunch is fairly healthy, nothing to terrible. Yes I do eat some food and not others. I have not noticed a change in school lunch policy however the change that pizza is now considered a vegetable. I believe that the food itself isn’t the problem moreover the overall picture of American health.

My school serves many different types of foods. It serves a main dish, side dish, and some type of healthy food. Most people do not want the healthy food. I do eat the school lunch but only sometime I eat the healthy stuff because it does not appeal to me. The school’s food has not changed because the school is too new. I recommend that the school should see what the students want.

I think that a school lunch should be healthy and tasty because kids need the nutrition and our obesity rate is growing. we have vegetables, meat, milk, and some cookies each day. I eat school lunch and I eat everything besides the cookies. Most schools should have salad because that is what kids love.

I think lunches should stay the way they are right now, at least at our particular school. Vegetables come with every meal served. If you to change the meal of the day to have even more “healthy” foods, so kids just might not eat it anymore because they miss their french fries and hoodsie cups. Right now we have an even balance in my opinion.

I think the healthier school lunch program is in fact a lost cause. Even though schools and the media are saying they are trying to make school lunches alot healthier but in reality they are not changeing much at all. The most I have seen school lunches change, has been the same unhealthy school luch, with a scoop of some kind of vegitable. Just adding a little bit of something healthy, to an unhealth meal, does not in my opinion qualifie as a healthy school meal.

Healthy lunch is a lost cause. Food that the schools buy is inexpensive, which usually means unhealthy. My school serves pizza and burgers and other unhealthy things. That’s why I usually bring my own food from home.

I think that healthy lunch is not completel a lost cause. Students like to eat healthy, but they also do not like to eat vegetables and/or fruits a lot. Some students do not like ealthy foods at all or they like to have meet.

I honestly think that schools should just change all of the food to things that are healthy. I love salad so this is coming from someone who likes to eat healthy, so this could be way different for other people but I do not like to eat lunch at all when I know that it is just bad for you. Here at MSMHS, our school lunches involve a choice, healthy food or unhealthy food. I like having the choice because then it is not like making kids eat healthy. It is your body and if you want to eat unhealthy things then do it.

Our school serves quite a large variety of foods, some healthy, and others not so much. I sometimes eat my school’s lunch, but I am not a big fan of lunch. When I do eat I generally have a slice of pizza. I have not noticed a change in our school’s lunch choices. I feel that our lunch choices are perfect the way they are, and nothing could be changed because plenty of healthy meals are offered every day.

My school serves a variety of things including pizza cheeseburgers and custom made salads. i do eat the school lunch and i ususally get pizza or burgers, i tend to avoid nachos or tacos. i have not really nticed a change because our school has a chef that amkes alot of personal things that don’t cost very much. my advice woul be to add some more fruit sides.

I think a healthier school lunch is horrible, meat portions going down and old lunches that used to fill us up for the rest of the school day is substituted by smaller portions of fruit that doesn’t fill us up at all. Our school serves very good school portions and allows us to buy foods that can fill us up even more. The foods may not be as healthy as some people think but since we are in high school I think we can manage how we eat. We should be able to buy and eat whatever we want. I haven’t seen any new changes in our lunch, and I’m not looking forward to anything new at lunch. I think they should give more portions of the bigger food groups like meat rather than small things like fruits.

I personally think that fruits and vegetables are very tasty, but that could be because I am vegetarian and growing up I had a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables incorporated into my daily meals. But almost every day at school I have cheese pizza because if I don’t order a salad in the morning, right when I get to school, then everything else has meat in it, thus I just will not eat it. I think that schools should offer more vegetarian options other than just salad and cheese pizza, in addition I think that more vegetable and fruit choices should be offered daily. Over all I haven’t really noticed a huge difference in inch quality, and I believe that nutrition is more important than taste.

I think school lunches can be both tasty and healthy at the same time. You can easily balance out the healthy with the non-healthy items. For example, you can have yogurt (healthy) with chocolate chips in it. Things like this will encourage kids to eat healthier. Basically it’s a way of tricking people into eating healthier. I think for most public schools, healthier lunches is a lost hope due to lack of funding. If districts could come up with more funding, I think more healthy lunch choices would be available.

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Our Top Healthy Lunches for Kids to Take to School

Leah Goggins is a digital fellow for EatingWell. Based in Birmingham, Alabama, she is a devotee of old movies, farmers' markets and Ina Garten's tomato sandwich with basil mayo recipe. Leah has a degree in news media and English from The University of Alabama.

These healthy lunches for kids aim to please even the pickiest palates. No lunch trades here! Pack a healthier lunchbox for school with these healthy lunch and snack ideas kids will actually want to eat.

DIY Taco Lunchbox

Who doesn't love a taco? While the tortillas most likely won't be warm when you eat it, warming them first keeps them pliable for filling. If you're missing the crunch of a hard taco, sub tortilla chips for the soft tortillas.

Pizza Roll-Up Bento Lunch

This easy pizza-inspired roll-up is a kid-pleaser. Make crunchy vegetables more appealing by selecting colorful varieties like orange and purple cauliflower--and don't forget the dip! Keep 'em smiling with watermelon cut into fun shapes with cookie cutters.

Turkey Meatball & Feta Lunchbox

This easy lunchbox lunch is inspired by the flavors of the Mediterranean, including feta, hummus and cucumber. Turkey meatballs are dipped in a homemade creamy yogurt-dill sauce, but ranch dressing would also work well in its place.

Taco Salad Bento Lunch for Kids

No more half-eaten lunches--this taco-inspired bento box lunch is a healthy and portable meal your kid will love.

Pasta Salad with Vinaigrette Lunchbox

Pasta salad is a great take-along lunch with tons of opportunity to make it your own. Want to make it vegetarian? Pack olives in place of salami. Don't love peppers? Try tomatoes instead! Be sure that you pack at least one container big enough to hold everything together once it's mixed (about 1 1/2 cups).

Cucumber Sandwich

This creamy, crunchy cucumber sandwich recipe strikes a lovely balance between decadent and light. The cream cheese-yogurt spread complements the crisp refreshing cucumber while the hearty flavor and texture of the whole-wheat bread holds everything together. Removing the crusts makes it more delicate than your average sandwich.

Turkey Meatball Wrap Lunchbox

Wraps are quick to make in the morning, especially if you have leftover meatballs on hand! A layer of whipped cream cheese creates a barrier that prevents the wrap from getting soggy—even if you make it the night before.

Egg Salad Lunchbox

Enjoy hard-boiled eggs on their own or chopped up and mixed with creamy dressing and some veggies thrown in for good measure. Dip a whole-wheat cracker into the mix or assemble an egg salad sandwich when you're ready to eat (last-minute assembly keeps the bread from getting soggy). If you're making lunch the night before, sprinkling the apple slices with a little cinnamon will add flavor and help mask any unsightly browning.

Turkey & Cheese Pinwheels Bento Lunch

Bite-size pinwheels of turkey, cheese and lettuce make an appealing centerpiece of this bento box. Crisp celery sticks and juicy blueberries are tasty accompaniment, while popcorn, mixed with chocolate chips, makes a satisfying snack or dessert. Plus, this healthy lunch is so easy to pack and can even be made the night before.

Rainbow Veggie Wraps

There's definitely a sushi vibe to these kid-friendly wraps, which are stuffed with vegetables, cheese and hummus and then rolled and sliced. Serve them with store-bought green goddess, a creamy herb-filled dressing, to take it up a notch with ease. They look impressive but they're easy enough for kids to assemble themselves for an easy lunch or dinner.

Buffalo-Style Bistro Lunch Box

These tailgate-inspired lunch bowls can be assembled in about 15 minutes using just a handful of ingredients from your local specialty grocery store, like pregrilled chicken and spicy Buffalo-flavored hummus.

S'mores Energy Balls

These two-bite, protein-packed snacks have all the flavors of a campfire favorite rolled right in. Mini chocolate chips and graham cracker pieces are blended into the base mixture, while a mini marshmallow is tucked into the center. Even better, they're no-bake and you can make a big batch in about 30 minutes.

Breakfast-for-Lunch Bento for Kids

This bento box idea is full of your kid's breakfast favorites, even waffles. This lunch is packed with healthy foods you will feel good about serving and kids will actually be excited to eat--no more half-eaten lunches!

Strawberry & Cream Cheese Sandwich

Sliced strawberries and reduced-fat cream cheese come together in a sandwich for this quick and healthy lunchbox treat.

BBQ Chicken Sandwich

Toss leftover cooked chicken with barbecue sauce and crunchy carrots for a quick and healthy lunch.

Coconut-Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

Make a batch of these granola bars ahead of time and you'll have a tasty, lunchbox-ready snack on hand. These nut-free granola bars are packed with chocolate chips and shredded coconut for a sweet treat. Whether you like a chewy granola bar or a crunchy one, the bake time is easily adjusted to suit your preferences.

Rainbow Bento Lunch for Kids

This bento box idea makes lunch fun. With its colorful carrots and swirled yogurt, this packable lunch is a healthy meal kids will actually want to eat--no more half-eaten lunches.

Ham Pinwheels

Ready in just 5 minutes, this cute ham-and-cheese appetizer or snack is as much fun to make as it is to eat. Top with your favorite fresh herb, such as dill or basil, for a pretty presentation.

Try this easy egg salad on your favorite multigrain bread or on top of lightly dressed salad greens.

Deconstructed Cobb Salad Bento Lunch for Kids

This kid-friendly twist on classic Cobb salad gives children the choice to eat all the healthy ingredients--veggies, turkey, eggs, bacon and avocado--together or separately. Packing it all in a bento box makes it easy to tote to school and keeps all the ingredients from touching, a plus for picky eaters.

Kid-Friendly Salad

Make salad something your kids will actually want to eat with this kid-friendly crudité. Pack up the dressing in a leak-proof container.

Garlic Hummus

This classic hummus recipe couldn't be easier--just toss a few ingredients in the food processor and whir away! Aquafaba (the liquid from a can of chickpeas) makes this healthy dip extra smooth and creamy. Serve with veggie chips, pita chips or crudités.

No-Nut Butter

If you have a nut allergy or need to pack nut-free lunches, try this easy recipe for homemade no-nut butter. For the best flavor, don't skip toasting the seeds.

Chipotle Chicken Quinoa Burrito Bowl

This chipotle-flavored burrito bowl recipe is even better than takeout and just as fast. Loading it with vegetables and using quinoa in place of rice adds nutrition for a healthy dinner.

Muffin-Tin Quiches with Smoked Cheddar & Potato

Potatoes, cheese and greens make this mini quiche recipe delicious and satisfying. Bake up a batch over the weekend and you'll have breakfast available in a hurry for the rest of the week.

Sweet Potato Chips

Make perfectly crunchy veggie chips at home with this healthy recipe. Use a mandoline to slice the sweet potatoes extra-thin for the optimum crunch!

Strawberry & Yogurt Parfait

This healthy yogurt parfait recipe combines fresh fruit, Greek yogurt and crunchy granola for an easy breakfast. Pack the parfait in a mason jar for a healthy breakfast on the go.

Guacamole with Bell Pepper Dippers

Skip tortilla chips and get a healthy dose of vitamin C when you use bell pepper as a dipper for guacamole in this quick snack recipe.

Sesame Carrots

Toasted sesame seeds add taste and eye appeal to a cheery plate of crunchy carrots.

Clean-Eating Bento Box Lunch

Who says bento boxes are just for kids? This healthy bento-style lunch--loaded with clean, satisfying foods--is perfect to pack for work.

Rainbow Fruit Kebabs

Eating clean doesn't have to be boring! This fruit-salad-on-a-stick is the natural way to get in on the rainbow trend for a fun healthy snack or no-added-sugar dessert.

Quick Strawberry "Cheesecake"

Get cheesecake flavor without having to bake with this healthy dessert recipe. To make it gluten-free, look for gluten-free graham crackers.

Tuna Salad Sandwich with Sweet Relish

This sweet twist on a classic tuna-salad sandwich is a healthy high-protein lunch that even your kids will love.

Peanut Butter-Banana Roll-Ups

These healthy roll-ups with peanut butter and bananas make eating lunch fun! Kids will love the bite-sized version of this sandwich. Try sunflower seed butter as an allergy-friendly alternative.

Cream Cheese & Veggie Roll-Up

With sliced vegetables, a whole-wheat tortilla and baby spinach, these roll-ups make the perfect healthy lunch for your kids to take to school.

Turkey Apple Cheddar Sandwich

It only takes 5 minutes to make this healthy sandwich with whole-wheat bread and the classic combination of Cheddar cheese and apples that your kids will love.

Smoked Salmon Brown Rice Onigiri

These Japanese rice triangles can be made simply with seasoned rice or filled with vegetables or protein. Cooking a bit of starchier short-grain white rice with the brown ensures they hold together—but still gives you a filling dose of fiber.

Turkey, Cheese & Veggie Plate

This colorful picnic dinner idea features tasty munchies you don't need utensils for and mild flavors that kids prefer, like deli meat, cheese and crunchy raw veggies. It's easy to assemble this complete menu, and adults will enjoy it as much as the kids. The menu calls for store-bought hummus and cookies, but you can easily make them yourself (see Tips, below).

PB&J Bistro Lunch Box

Inspired by Starbucks' bistro boxes, this peanut butter and jelly lunch will be loved by kids and adults alike. Accompanied by sandwich sides including a yogurt parfait, fruit, veggies and popcorn, this healthy packable lunch will keep you full until dinner. Use sunflower seed butter in place of peanut butter to make this lunch nut-free.

A Week of Healthy School Lunch Ideas

Making lunches for school in the morning is tough, especially if you're short on time and trying to appease eating habits that seem to change on a dime. But a little prep (and a lot of choices!) can go a long way. With just one hour of prep time on Sunday, you can have lunches ready to go (or almost ready to go) for the weekdays.

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Sample essay on healthy school lunches in america.

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This sample essay from Ultius will explore the issue of schools within America failing to serve adequately healthy lunches to the children of the nation. As our readers will see in this sample essay, the freelance writers at Ultius thrive on sensibly arguing any side of any topic- especially a much debated topic as what are children should eat in school. If you find yourself overwhelmed or short on time to produce an essay for an upcoming deadline, consider using sample essay writing services from Ultius and connect with a professional writer.

School lunch in America has been a topic of debate for quite a long time. Indeed, it would sometimes seem that efforts in this regard produce so little in the way of results that one would be justified in wondering whether efforts to improve the quality of school lunches taken on behalf of a lost cause. The purpose of the present sample essay provided by Ultius is to discuss the plight of healthier school lunches in America. The essay will begin with a consideration of First Lady Michelle Obama's recent efforts in this regard. Then, the essay will turn to the problem of cost when it comes to school lunches; and after this, it will discuss the problem of children simply not eating healthier lunches even when such lunches are made available to them. Finally, the essay will critically reflect on the state of school lunches in America and attempt to get to the bottom of the real problem. While this sample reflects undergrad level essay writing , our team is ready and able to write on this subject at any level you require.

Healthy school lunches in America: The First Lady's perspective

To start with, then, it is worth noting that Michelle Obama has recently taken efforts to reform and improve the quality of school lunches, as part of her more general campaign to address the public health issue of childhood obesity. The main relevant law in this regard is the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA), which was passed in the year 2010.One of the main provisions of this program had consisted of considerably stricter nutritional requirements for the food that is served to students within schools.  Julie Kelly and Jeff Stier of The National Review have written the following about this law:

Championed by First Lady Michelle Obama, the HHFKA set new nutrition standards for school meals while expanding access to taxpayer-funded breakfast and lunch to millions of students. . . . While the law was initially hailed as a noble effort to address the American paradox of childhood hunger and obesity, the HHFKA may have created more problems than it solved (paragraph 3) .

It would seem, however, that this initiative, well-intentioned as it obviously is, has met with considerable failure. For example:

...the new standards led to kids throwing out their fruits and vegetables, student boycotts, higher lunch costs, and odd pairings such as 'cheese stick with shrimp' in order for schools to comply with the complicated rules (Harrington).

Some of these specific issues will be addressed in greater depth below. For the time being, though, it is perhaps worth simply pointing out that there is considerable potential for a disjunction to arise between what is a technically nutritious meal on the one hand, and what it is actually desirable as real food for children on the other. In the battle for nutrition education and preventing obesity , a child's taste profile is a key opponent. It would seem that in general, Michelle Obama's initiative has led to schools attempting to follow the letter of the law with respect to the regulations, sometimes or even often at the expense of the subjective quality of the food in terms of balance and taste. This is somewhat ironic, to say the least, and it calls into question the very concept of the "healthy" itself, insofar as the concept does not seem to adequately take into account the way that children subjectively experience their food.

In any event, it will now be worth turning to two specific issues regarding the plight of healthier school lunch programs in America. The first of these has to do with cost, both in terms of the money available to produce school meals and the money it costs to purchase those meals. And the second has to do with students simply not eating the lunches that are being served to them. Each of these issues is a crucial part of why it has proven to be so difficult for so long to achieve sustainable and meaningful improvements in the quality of the meals served through school lunch programs across this nation. 

What is the cost of a nutritious school meal in The United States?

Regarding the issue of cost, it is surely worth considering the government's funding of school lunch programs. Bettina Elias Siegel of The New York Times writes :

The federal government provides a little over $3 per student per lunch . . . But districts generally require their food departments to pay their own overhead, including electricity, accounting and trash collection. Most are left with a dollar and change for food—and . . .no one is buying scallops and lamb on that meager budget  (paragraph 4) .

In other words, it would seem almost absurd to expect schools to serve healthier or less processed lunches when they are expected to prepare a meal for about a dollar. This would seem to be logistically unfeasible, to put the matter mildly; and it would seem surprising not that school lunches are not healthier but that lunch programs are even able to produce edible food at all with that kind of budget.

Third party management of school lunches for children

Moreover, this problem of cost is exacerbated when schools begin outsourcing their lunch programs to food management companies. "The quality [of the food] goes down; they [the companies] have purchasing powers . . . There's no reason in the world that money [$2.68] should offer a profit. But they know how to manage the subsidies" (Schreiber). These companies, of course, have little incentive to improve the quality of school lunches, insofar as such improvements would get in the way of their profit motive; and as for the schools themselves, most are likely just grateful to have solved the problem of producing meals on such a budget in a relatively painless way. The situation thus becomes one in which the government itself is the only primary stakeholder pushing for healthier school lunches but also refuses to invest the kind of money that would be required in order to actually make this happen. The economics of the matter thus tend to take precedence, and school lunches tend to remain how they are. 

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Is nutritious food going to waste in our schools?

There is a second critical issue facing the push for healthier school lunches—an issue that is so obvious that one may almost be forgiven for having forgotten about it. One of the leading causes of obesity in children is not having access to healthy food . Here, they are provided a healthy balanced meal and declining to eat it.

Getting fresh fruits and vegetables onto lunch trays in public schools was only half the battle, because it turns out most kids still aren't eating them. Researchers from John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health studied students' eating habits and found nearly six out of 10 won't even touch a healthy food option on their plate (Olson).

And of course, there would be no point at all in making such healthy options available in the first place, if there is no effective way to persuade students to actually eat the stuff and much of it will end up going in the garbage. In short, there would seem to exist a serious disjunction between the concept of the healthy on the one hand and the concept of the desirable on the other—a disjunction that policymakers have apparently failed to take with adequate seriousness.

Are healthier school meals for kids even worth it?

Ariana Eunjung Cha of The Washington Post highlights :

in one study, a given student "left the lunch line one day carrying a tray full of what looked like a balanced meal: "chicken nuggets, some sort of mushy starch, green beans and milk. Exactly 13 minutes later she was done. The chicken nuggets and the starch were gone. But the green beans? Still there in a neat pile and headed straight for the trash" 

Among other things, that is a whole lot of wasted time, money, and effort. It would seem that from the perspective of many children, the healthy option in school lunches barely even registers as edible food at all, given how they treat it: they would seem to neatly divide up the lunch into the healthy and the less healthy parts, and then efficiently set aside the former for the garbage. This is a very serious issue, and unless it is addressed in a meaningful way, any further discussion about the value of healthier school lunches would clearly be rendered irrelevant. 

The problem, at least to some extent, would seem to be that school lunches are typically so poorly integrated in the first place. After all, in most normal meals, it is not possible to discretely separate out the healthy component from the unhealthy component; rather, the meal is generally called healthy exactly because it has a good integration of the different components within an actual single unit, as it were. This is a tactic that is commonly used by fast food companies used to mask the health risks typically associated with easting fast food . In their attempts to follow the letter of nutritional requirements, however, most school lunch programs would seem to neglect the concept of the meal as a whole, simply cobbling together various items that technically meet the requirements but are not on the balance appetizing as a whole to the children who are supposed to eat them. The result, then, could be called sadly predictable: children eat what they find appetizing, and throw out the rest; and the parts that are called healthy, due to their poor integration with the meal as a whole, are generally the parts that are thrown out.

Healthy school lunches in America: A critical reflection

The abysmal quality of school lunches within America becomes especially apparent when these lunches are compared with lunches elsewhere in the world. For example, one school in France where one "finds schoolchildren eating scallops, lamb skewers and a cheese course" (Siegel).   Christian Storm of Business Insider notes   that a typical meal in Italy may consist of "fish on arugula, pasta with tomato sauce, caprese salad, baguette, and grapes." Aside from the sheer difference in intrinsic quality, one also perceives a difference in the level of integration of the meals in question: it seems clear that the school lunches in France and Italy, unlike their counterparts in America, are actually conceptualized as unified meals, with the lines between the healthy and less healthy parts of the meal fading in light of the overall total quality of the meal as a whole. At a certain level, then, it can be suggested that the problem with American school lunches is a conceptual one.

The discussion above has revealed that to simple focus on the technical nutritional value of American school lunches does not get anywhere near addressing the real heart of the problem; and this problem can be seen in the simple fact that even when relatively healthier options are including in the lunches, many American children simply refuse to eat them. If the problem of school lunches is to be truly addressed in a meaningful way, then, the concept of nutritional value clearly needs to be supplemented by the concept of desirability. And this is the case because insofar as the lunches remain undesirable to students, any resources dedicated to improving nutritional value will simply end up being a waste. Addressing this issue will likely require the American government to invest in a considerably heavier way in school lunch programs across the nation, not least because it will be necessary for stakeholders to fundamentally reimagine how they think about the food in the first place. If such a paradigm shift does not take place, then it can fairly be concluded that the cause of healthier school lunches within America really is a lost one. 

In summary, this sample essay from Ultius has consisted of an analysis and discussion of the plight of healthier school lunch programs within America. After considering the First Lady's recent efforts in this regard, the essay turned to two key issues regarding American school meals—the issue of cost and the issue of desirability—and reached the conclusion that efforts to improve the nutritional value of school lunches across the nation are essentially just a waste of time, money, and attention insofar as efforts are not also taken to make the school lunches fundamentally desirable for students. This would require investments not only of money but also of imagination; and unless this can be done, it would be unreasonable to expect any meaningful improvements to be made regarding the real quality of school lunches within the nation.

Are you in need of a more sophisticated discussion of this subject? Let the Ultius thesis writers take care of you.

Works Cited

Art Institutes. "Unhealthy School Lunches Not Making the Grade." Author, n.d. Web. 6 Sep. 2016.

Cha, Ariana Eunjung. "Why the Healthy School Lunch Program Is in Trouble." Washington Post. 26 Aug. 2015. Web. 6 Sep. 2016.

Harrington, Elizabeth. "1M Kids Stop School Lunch due to Michelle Obama's Standards." Washington Times. 6 Mar. 2014. Web. 6 Sep. 2016.

Kelly Julie, and Jeff Stier. "Michelle Obama's 'Healthy School Lunches.'" National Review. 9 Sep. 2015. Web. 6 Sep. 2016.

Olson, Samantha. "Students Aren't Eating Healthy School Lunches, Despite Availability." Medical Daily. 17 Nov. 2014. Web. 6 Sep. 2016. 

Siegel, Bettina Elias. "The Real Problem with Lunch." New York Times. 15 Jan. 2016. Web. 6 Sep. 2016. 

Storm, Christian. "Here's How School Lunch in the US Stacks Up against What's Served in the Rest of the World." Business Insider. 9 Feb. 2015. Web. 6 Sep. 2016.

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Get a head start on healthy eating with back-to-school lunches: Jasmine Mangalaseril

Local food programs encourage healthy and nutritious meals for school lunches.

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Sending your kids off to school with tasty, healthy food that they'll want to eat can be a challenge. Here are some strategies that can help ensure kids have a good nutritional start.

Canada's Food Guide plate is a great place to start when figuring out what your kids should eat.

"We can think about half of our plate being colourful fruits and vegetables," explained Andrea D'Ambrosio, registered dietitian and owner of Kitchener's Dietetic Directions.

"We want a quarter of our plate to be the protein. And we want a quarter of our plate to be the starch, whole grains, fiber-rich carbohydrates which give our brain and body fuel and energy."

This sort of food combining will help kids feel full longer, while providing the nutrients they need.

Eating a lot of convenience foods isn't ideal, but D'Ambrosio suggests certain types can be part of a nutritious diet.

"Things that just increase the convenience like some canned options are nutritious options. Some beans might be higher in salt, but you can simply rinse them," said D'Ambrosio.

Tinned tuna or fresh-frozen fruit or vegetables, can be good options because they make meal prep more efficient. 

Healthy eating starts at home

These tips for creating a food-positive environment can help kids make healthy eating choices:

• Lead by example – kids pick up on what parents do, so set regular mealtimes and don't skip meals. 
• Plan ahead – figure out meals and snacks before shopping so you've got everything when you're cooking and packing lunches.
• Involve your kids – help them develop an interest in what they're eating by visiting local farms, growing fruits and veggies in container gardens and getting them cooking with ability-appropriate tasks like stirring, measuring, or peeling potatoes. 
• Cook at home rather than buy take-out meals.
• Plan meals with a "cook once, eat twice" mindset — add tonight's veggies or proteins to tomorrow's grain or pasta salads or wraps.
• Bulk deals can save money but be careful that food waste doesn't erase your savings.

School food programs

Some schools host community gardens, which are accessible to families and the community. 

Families and groups can also rent the Waterloo Region District School board's school kitchens. Batch cooking freezable foods (like meatballs, dumplings, or vegetarian chili) can save time, energy, and money.

"We know that within some community groups, whether it's an occasion or whether it's just everybody pooling their resources, cooking together is one way families are able to access food," said Eusis Dougan-McKenzie, WRDSB executive officer.

Since buying healthy food can be expensive, both regional boards work with Nutrition for Learning and Food4Kids to address food insecurity. Food4Kids provides weekend and school break food parcels. Nutrition for Learning has universally accessible in-school programs.

"The idea is that to avoid stigma and to really support all children so they're actually full. And then their bodies have energy, and they're able to learn," said Dougan-McKenzie.

Nutrition For Learning works with participating grade schools and high schools to ensure students can access healthy foods. In grade schools, bins are in classrooms; in high schools, they're in accessible, strategic locations.

"[High schools] have communal spots, [such as] outside of guidance, and then, in another part of the high school, there's another spot," said Kerry Moco, who is in program support and development at Nutrition For Learning.

The foods they distribute fall within ministry guidelines, with options appropriate for different diets like vegetarian and Halal.

The number of Waterloo region schools they support has nearly doubled in five years to 180.

Schools don't charge fees for Nutrition for Learning; the food is "just there." The programs are funded through the charity's efforts.

"We have not ever said, 'You cannot be a part of our program'. That being said, the cost of an average program is upwards to $15,000, every school year," said Moco.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

CBC K-W food columnist

CBC-KW food columnist Jasmine Mangalaseril is a Waterloo Region-based food writer and culinary historian. She talks about local food, restaurants, and the food industry, and how they affect what and how we eat. She’s on Bluesky, Mastodon, and Meta as @cardamomaddict.

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15 Healthy School Lunches The Kids Might Actually Eat

School is back in session and that means you need a creative and delicious lunch that your kids might actually eat, and you need it five days a week. While it’s not always easy to pack their lunches, it’s the best way to make sure they are eating healthy. But packing healthy food won’t matter if they don’t eat it. So here are fifteen healthy school lunches that your kids will love, to get you through those first few weeks of back to school.

1. Ranch Chicken Wraps

If you want a lunch that you know is going to be devoured, send them off to school with this ranch chicken wrap . They are hearty, flavorful, and delicious for a lunch you know that they will enjoy.

2. Tuna Wrap

A classic lunchtime favorite, tuna wrap is a great way to get some healthy protein into your child’s diet. You can prep the ingredients the night before and have the wrap ready to go in the morning.

3. Egg Salad Sandwich

Arguably the most popular sandwich ever, an egg salad sandwich is a lunchtime staple you and your kids will both enjoy. The best part? This recipe is way healthier than the classic thanks to part of the mayo being substituted with with smashed avocado. Healthy, creamy, and delicious.

4. Chicken Poppers

Chicken poppers are a protein-heavy main course made in kid-size portions. It’s easy for them to pick up with little fingers and even dip into some kind of sauce. Pack a sugar-free ketchup or a side of ranch and they will devour these.

5. Homemade Uncrustables

Some parents might try to avoid the ingredients in a store-bought package of Uncrustables. But that won’t stop your kids from wanting them, especially if their friends are eating them. So instead, make some homemade Uncrustables . They are easy and tasty, plus you can make a big batch and keep them in the freezer if needed. They’ll be defrosted by lunch.

6. Tuna Pinwheels

Tuna pinwheels are delicious (for adults, too!) and very filling. They will tide the kiddos over until they get home with no problem thanks to all that amazing protein. In fact, they might even stay full until dinner. Pack these with a side of carrot sticks or other small snacks.

7. Apple & Smoked Gouda Lunchbox Kebobs

While you will want to choose your skewers carefully, these delicious apple & smoked Gouda lunchbox kebobs are a fun and tasty way to get the kids to fill their bellies at the lunch table. While these may be better suited for older kids, there are kid-friendly skewers available.

8. Spaghetti Cups

Spaghetti cups turn messy spaghetti into tidy finger food. They are easy to pack and fun for the kids to eat. They are cheesy, and easily pack into a lunchbox thanks to their “mini muffin” size. Pair with some veggie sticks or a salad.

9. Lunch Box Burritos

These lunch box burritos are a great option for make-ahead lunches. Make a big batch and freeze them for easy lunch packing in the morning. If you take them out the evening before and keep them in the fridge overnight, they will be thawed just fine by the time lunchtime rolls around.

10. Banana Poppers

Do your kids like bananas? Take those bananas to the next level and turn them into lunch with this banana poppers recipe. They are perfect for little fingers, and super easy to eat. You can make them as little or as chunky as you like, and the kids will love finding them in their lunchboxes.

11. Mac and Cheese Bites

Mac and cheese bites are a fun lunch that is mess-free and something the kids will enjoy. Make a big batch so you have a few days’ worth for easy lunches. These can be frozen as well if you need to make ahead.

12. Quinoa Muffins For School Lunches

Quinoa muffins for school lunches are a great way to get your kids to eat more whole grains (though, technically, quinoa is a seed). They are bite-size deliciousness that is perfectly fitted for a bento-style lunchbox.

13. Jam Sandwiches For Lunchbox Lunches

Do your kids prefer something a little sweeter for lunch? Find a no-sugar fruit preserve and make these jam sandwiches for lunchbox lunches . It’s the yumminess of a PB&J, just without the PB. The kids will love them and you can cut them to any size or shape.

14. Banana Sushi

Yes, banana sushi is a thing, and it’s absolutely perfect for school lunches. It’s filling, and satisfying, and the kids will have a lot of fun eating it. You can even pack chopsticks. If you pack a yogurt cup, your kids can even dunk these in yogurt for a tasty “sauce.”

15. Easy Gimbap

This easy gimbap recipe is a quick and simple meal for school lunches. Kids never argue with hot dogs, and you can feel good about the brown rice and nori. In the interest of time on a busy school morning, these are best to make the night before.

More From The Gracious Pantry

If you prefer sandwiches to wraps, I’ve gotcha covered there, too. Here’s a fabulous collection of sandwich recipes that taste amazing and might actually be good for you, too.

• Surprisingly Healthy Sandwiches You’ll Actually Want To Eat
• Office-Friendly Lunch Wraps

Author: Tiffany McCauley

Title: food and travel journalist, expertise: food, cooking, travel.

Tiffany McCauley is a nationally syndicated journalist and an award-winning cookbook author and food blogger . She has been featured on MSN, Huffington Post, Country Living Magazine, HealthLine, Redbook, and many more. Her food specialty is healthy comfort food recipes.

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Follow These Steps to Tasty, Healthy School Lunches

SUNDAY, Sept.1, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Backpacks. Notebooks. Folders. Pencils. These are all essentials for a good start to your children's school year, but what about their nutrition?

As summer ends and kids return to classrooms, one culinary medicine expert offers up easy ways to help your children eat healthy foods during the school day.

School lunches have gotten healthier since last April, when the U.S. Department of Agriculture released  new guidelines  that lower sugar and salt levels and focus on whole grains.

Still, packing lunch at home can be a good choice if you want more control over what your child eats during the day, said Dr. Jaclyn Albin , an associate professor of internal medicine, pediatrics and public health at UT Southwestern School of Medicine.

"You and your kids don’t have to choose between nutritious and delicious," Albin said in a UT Southwestern news release. "With a little planning, you can craft healthy, tasty lunches that leave your kids full and satisfied. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel -- a lot of what my kids pack for lunch are leftovers from the previous day."

Where to start?

A well-balanced lunch should be about 50% fruits and vegetables. Incorporating a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables in school lunches boosts nutritional value and makes the meal more fun.

The remaining half of the meal should be whole grains, proteins and healthy fats that boost your child’s energy levels, Albin said.

Healthy fats can be found in avocados, nuts and seeds (just check school allergy policies first), and in fish such as trout, cod or salmon. Protein options include chicken, fish, turkey and tofu, Albin said.

"My favorite proteins are beans and lentils, which are versatile, affordable, and full of fiber," she added.

You can also pack simple snacks for your kids to keep their energy levels high throughout the day, such as fresh fruit, popcorn, low-sugar granola bars or homemade energy bites.

Now, some parents may worry that lunch will spoil before it’s time to eat, but a cold pack or insulated container can keep that from happening. Hot food should stay warm enough to be palatable, Albin said, but you can avoid cream or dairy-based foods if you are worried abut food going bad.

Still, even the tastiest meals can go to waste if your child has allergies or is a picky eater, Albin noted.

Many schools enforce food allergen restrictions, particularly for peanuts and tree nuts (such as almonds and hazelnuts), as well as shellfish. All students and visitors have to adhere to these restrictions, even if your own child doesn’t have allergies.

If your child does have allergies, there are often safe food alternatives, Albin said. For example, if your child loves peanut butter, try sunflower butter instead. Sunflower allergies exist, but they’re very rare, she added.

What if your child is a picky eater? First ask your child to write down everything he or she likes to eat: You might be surprised by the proteins, fruits and veggies they mention. If they need a little inspiration, ask them to think of foods in five different colors, Albin suggested.

Getting your kid involved in meal prep can be another way to curb picky eating, she added, because kids might be more willing to eat something they prepared.

When packing your child's lunch, don't forget they also need hydration during the day, Albin said.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, half of all kids and adolescents are under-hydrated, and 1 in 5 don’t drink plain water during the day.

It can be a surprising struggle to get kids to drink water, Albin acknowledged.

"One way my family has dealt with keeping our kids properly hydrated is by making water fun," she said. "Flavor it with frozen fruit and herbs, such as strawberry and mint or pineapple and mango dropped in a pitcher to soak overnight."

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on school lunch programs .

SOURCE: UT Southwestern, news release, Aug. 21, 2024

What This Means For You

Worried about what your child will eat during the school day as classes resume? One expert has some advice.

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25 Quick and Easy High School Lunch Ideas

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These high school lunch ideas are quick and easy to make. They can be made ahead of time and packed away for school lunches or enjoyed at home for those days when they’re at home.

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Whether your high schooler needs a cold lunch that doesn’t have to be reheated or can use a microwave to heat it up, this collection of high school lunch ideas are a filling and flavorful way to get them through the day.

Baked Ham & Cheese Crescent Rolls

Add some fun to lunch with these crescent roll ups. They turn your typical ham and cheese sandwich into something a little more flavorful and fun.

Get The Recipe: Baked Ham & Cheese Crescent Rolls

Chicken Egg Roll in a Bowl

Made in just one skillet, you can make this chicken egg roll in a bowl ahead of time and warm it up for lunch.

Get The Recipe: Chicken Egg Roll in a Bowl

Easy Turkey Bacon Ranch Sliders

Easy to make and oh so tasty, these turkey bacon and ranch sliders are perfect for lunch. They only take 7 ingredients and are easy to make.

Get The Recipe: Easy Turkey Bacon Ranch Sliders

Chicken Noodle Soup

Chicken noodle soup is a classic that never goes out of style! For the colder weather days, high school students can enjoy a warm bowl of this chicken noodle soup.

Get The Recipe: Chicken Noodle Soup

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Copycat Sweetgreen Harvest Bowl

Loaded with veggies and flavor, this copycat harvest bowl is easy to make and put together. Use their favorite veggies for a custom lunch.

Get The Recipe: Copycat Sweetgreen Harvest Bowl

The Best Damn Chili Recipe

Make this chili ahead of time and leave the leftovers for your high schooler to enjoy for lunch. It’s an easy to make meal that’s filling, cozy, and flavorful.

Get The Recipe: The Best Damn Chili Recipe

Sausage Balls with Cream Cheese

Freezer friendly and easy to make, these sausage balls are perfect for lunch. Make them ahead of time and when you need pull them out and reheat them for a tasty lunch your high schooler can enjoy.

Get The Recipe: Sausage Balls with Cream Cheese

Sushi Bake Cups

Perfect for packing away in a lunch box, or enjoyed at home, these sushi bake cups are a flavorful high school lunch idea.

Get The Recipe: Sushi Bake Cups

Big Mac Tacos

Fun and flavorful, these Big Mac tacos are sure to be a hit for lunch. Just prep and make the meat ahead of time so that your high schooler can heat them up for lunch.

Get The Recipe: Big Mac Tacos

Chicken Lettuce Wraps With Peanut Sauce

These chicken lettuce wraps are easy to make and they’re drizzled with a peanut sauce to bring in some extra flavor.

Get The Recipe: Chicken Lettuce Wraps With Peanut Sauce

Strawberry Smoothie Bowl

Super easy to make, this strawberry smoothie bowl is a healthy lunch idea. It’s one of those high school lunch ideas that can be enjoyed on its own or paired with something else.

Get The Recipe: Strawberry Smoothie Bowl

The Best Vegan Cobb Salad

A cobb salad is a filling and healthy lunch for high schoolers. This vegan version is easy to make and loaded with healthy veggies.

Get The Recipe: The Best Vegan Cobb Salad

Copycat Zupas Ultimate Grilled Cheese

You can never go wrong with a grilled cheese sandwich for lunch. This is a copycat recipe that brings together so many different flavors is irresistible.

Get The Recipe: Copycat Zupas Ultimate Grilled Cheese

Best Vegan Tacos

A plant-based taco is a delicious and healthy lunch idea for high schoolers. Prep them ahead of time and they can add their favorite toppings.

Get The Recipe: Best Vegan Tacos

The Best Vegan Black Bean Burger

These black bean burgers can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days so you can make these ahead of time and they can heat them up when they are ready for lunch.

Get The Recipe: The Best Vegan Black Bean Burger

Turkey Avocado Panini

Paninis are perfect for lunch because you can customize them with your favorite sandwich goodies and easily make them in a panini press or on the stove.

Get The Recipe: Turkey Avocado Panini

Classic Club Sandwich

A classic sandwich that high schoolers can easily put together. They can pair the club with their favorite sides for a tasty lunch.

Get The Recipe: Classic Club Sandwich

Turkey Hummus Wraps

These turkey hummus wraps come together in just a few minutes and make a filling and healthy lunch your high schooler can enjoy.

Get The Recipe: Turkey Hummus Wraps

Greek Chicken Salad Bowls

The perfect meal prep lunch! Make these Greek chicken salad bowls ahead of time and they can pull them out to enjoy for lunch or pack them away in a lunch bag.

Get The Recipe: Greek Chicken Salad Bowls

Open-face Summer Sandwiches

Easy to make and flavorful, high schoolers can put together these open faced summer sandwiches to enjoy for lunch.

Get The Recipe: Open-face Summer Sandwiches

California Club Wraps

These wraps are loaded with smashed avocado, crispy bacon, tomatoes, lettuce, and rotisserie chicken for a delicious weekday lunch your high schooler can enjoy.

Get The Recipe: California Club Wraps

Egg Salad with Pickles

A filling and flavorful egg salad sandwich on croissant bread can be a great lunch idea for high schoolers.

Get The Recipe: Egg Salad with Pickles

Teriyaki Chicken Lettuce Wraps

These teriyaki chicken lettuce wraps are an easy high school lunch idea. The flavorful wraps are sure to be a hit.

Get The Recipe: Teriyaki Chicken Lettuce Wraps

The Almost-Perfect Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Who can resist the almost-perfect grilled cheese sandwich when it comes to lunch options? They’ll love the cheesy sandwiches.

Get The Recipe: The Almost-Perfect Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Chicken Burrito Bowl

Loaded with protein to keep them going throughout the day, this chicken burrito bowl is easy to put together and can be prepped ahead of time.

Get The Recipe: Chicken Burrito Bowl

Easy to make lunches or those that can be prepped ahead of time are perfect for high schoolers. This collection of flavorful lunch ideas for high schoolers has something for everyone.

25 School Breakfast Ideas That Will Make Mornings A Breeze

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and these school breakfast ideas will help you make sure the kids get their day started off right and make mornings a breeze.

Read it here: 25 School Breakfast Ideas That Will Make Mornings A Breeze

25 Ridiculously Simple 5 Minute Snacks For Busy Bees

These 5 minute snacks are fast, flavorful, and fuss-free. They include salads, dips and no-bake desserts, perfect for busy days or late-night cravings.

Read it here: 25 Ridiculously Simple 5 Minute Snacks For Busy Bees

25 Quick and Easy Dinner Recipes for Busy Families

Discover the joy of home cooking with these quick and easy dinner recipes. They include delicious pasta, rice bowls, stews, and other savory meals.

Read it here: 25 Quick and Easy Dinner Recipes for Busy Families

Interested in more recipe ideas? You’ll love these related recipes:

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Public Health

Schools ended universal free lunch. now meal debt is soaring.

From Harvest Public Media

Kate Grumke

Oakville Elementary School students go through the lunch line on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, in Oakville, Mo. Brian Munoz/St. Louis Public Radio hide caption

Oakville Elementary School students go through the lunch line on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, in Oakville, Mo.

Pat Broz has been serving meals to students in the Mehlville School District outside of St. Louis for almost 30 years. On a recent day at Oakville Elementary School, the kindergarteners sliding trays toward the register were all dressed up for school pictures. She complimented their outfits as she rang up their lunches.

Yet this year, Broz said fewer students have been coming through her line compared to when in-school meals were free for all students for two school years during the pandemic.

"There was a lot more kids," she said. "Everybody wanted breakfast and lunch."

Her observation bears out in national data. When meals were free last year, schools served more than 80 million more meals compared to the year before the pandemic.

Broz has noticed something else — when she rings up the kids she can see that they owe money for meals they haven't paid for. In fact, students in her district have about four times more meal debt than they typically had before the pandemic.

This school year started with an abrupt switch from pandemic-era free meals to a paid system. As the months have gone by, school districts across the U.S. are reporting signs that families might be struggling to afford school meals.

Meal debt is one strong indicator. Most schools won't deny a student a meal even if they can't pay, but will track their debt and try to collect from families throughout the school year.

There's no such thing as a free lunch. Vermont schools say there should be for kids

And this year school officials say meal debt is reaching levels they have never seen. A recent survey from the School Nutrition Association found school districts had more than $19 million in unpaid meal debt, with the Midwest and Great Plains reporting the highest rates of meal debt.

Now lawmakers at the state and federal level are looking for ways to fix a growing problem. Students who eat regular meals at school tend to eat an overall healthier diet, and do better at school, according research .

A handful of states have passed laws mandating universal free meals for students and many more are considering similar legislation. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently proposed an expansion to a free meal program, to try to feed significantly more students at high-need schools.

Amelia, a 5-year-old student at Oakville Elementary School, socializes during lunch in March at the school in Oakville, Mo. Kids who eat school meals tend to have a healthier diet. Brian Munoz/St. Louis Public Radio hide caption

Amelia, a 5-year-old student at Oakville Elementary School, socializes during lunch in March at the school in Oakville, Mo. Kids who eat school meals tend to have a healthier diet.

Signs of a problem

When universal free school meals aren't covered, schools instead provide free or reduced price lunch for families in need. But that process is complicated enough that some families fall through the cracks. And that means kids show up at school hungry for lunch but with no way to pay for it.

In the Sioux City Community School District in Iowa this spring, students had about $22,000 in debt. Rich Luze, who runs nutrition for the district, said the government could have handled the ending of the free meal benefit better.

"Giving it for two years, or whatever, and then abruptly stopping it, instead of phasing it down... that could have helped families prepare to readjust and rethink," Luze said.

Instead it looks like fewer families are qualifying for those free and reduced priced meals.

In Mehlville, the school district is serving about as many meals as it did before the pandemic, but the number of students who qualify for free and reduced price meals has dropped from 30% to 26%, said Katie Gegg, director of school food and nutrition services in the district.

"Which doesn't sound like a lot, but with a district of 10,000 students, that's 400 students that might need the support," Gegg said.

Changes all across the country are adding up too. Preliminary data on the national lunch program shows schools served almost 130 million fewer free or reduced price meals in the fall of 2022 compared to the same time period right before the pandemic.

The USDA wants to limit added sugars and sodium in school meals

School nutrition professionals and experts say a few factors have lead to the trend. Many families didn't know they needed to reapply after two years of automatic free meals. Gegg in St. Louis also said the application can be confusing, especially for the many families in her district whose first language is not English.

On top of that, a few years of rising wages could have pushed some families out of the program. To get free meals this year, a family of four has to make less than $36,000 a year. Although the USDA adjusts that number for inflation, food and housing prices are increasing, said Crystal FitzSimons, a director for the Food Research and Action Center.

"Those place a tremendous amount of stress on a household food budget and household budgets overall," FitzSimons said.

Policy solutions and funding struggles

Policymakers are looking at these changing numbers and searching for ways to get closer to the pandemic-era free meals.

California, Maine, Colorado, Minnesota and New Mexico have all passed legislation to make school meals free for all kids. Other states have passed temporary legislation and many more are considering similar policies.

A student at Oakville Elementary School eats his lunch on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at the school in Oakville, Mo. Brian Munoz/St. Louis Public Radio hide caption

The Biden administration is also looking for solutions. The USDA proposed a new rule to expand something called the Community Eligibility Provision. It allows schools and districts with a lot of high-need students to serve free meals to all of their kids, without families having to specifically apply. The USDA wants to lower the threshold of high-need students from 40% to 25%, allowing more schools to qualify for the program.

"We're providing greater flexibility, more participation in the program, resources that take a little of the pressure off," said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, while announcing the plan at a school in Greeley, Colo.

Before the pandemic, about one in three school districts in the U.S. were already serving free meals to all students through community eligibility. FitzSimons says this proposal could motivate more schools to opt in.

But she warns, "it doesn't actually increase the amount of federal funding that the school would receive. So we're still hoping that maybe Congress would put in additional funding."

Because states or schools currently have to fund these programs themselves, not all eligible districts choose to participate. In the U.S overall, about 75% of eligible schools chose to adopt the program last school year, but some states had much lower rates of adoption.

For instance, in Nebraska, about 12% of eligible schools took part in the program last year, the second-lowest rate in the U.S.

Nebraska's legislature is considering legislation that would nudge more school districts to sign up for the community eligibility program, to maximize the amount of federal funding schools receive.

State Sen. Eliot Bostar, a Democrat who represents part of Lincoln and sponsored one of the bills, said the biggest hurdle in his state will be the price. The state legislature's fiscal analyst estimates the policy will cost more than $55 million in its first year.

"It's my responsibility to convince my colleagues in the state legislature that this is a worthwhile investment for Nebraska to make in its students and its families," Bostar said.

Bostar said he thinks the free meals during the pandemic demonstrated the value of a program like this.

"It's difficult to have a family these days, it's expensive," he said. "And so anything that we can do to make it a little bit easier to lighten the load or ease the burden is worthwhile."

President Joe Biden requested $15 billion over the next 10 years in his 2024 budget to fund expanded access to the Community Eligibility Program. The administration says this would expand the program to an additional 9 million children around the country.

This story was produced in partnership with Harvest Public Media , a collaboration of public media newsrooms in the Midwest. It reports on food systems, agriculture and rural issues. Follow Harvest on Twitter: @HarvestPM.

• school lunch
• School meals
• universal free school meals

Home — Essay Samples — Nursing & Health — Nutrition — Enhancing School Lunch Programs: Health, Equity, and Academic Success

Enhancing School Lunch Programs: Health, Equity, and Academic Success

• Categories: Nutrition School

About this sample

Words: 699 |

Published: Jun 6, 2024

Words: 699 | Pages: 2 | 4 min read

Table of contents

The nutritional value of school lunches, the cost and accessibility of improved school lunches, the impact on academic performance and social equity.

• Anderson, M. L., Gallagher, J., & Ritchie, E. R. (2018). "School Lunch Quality and Academic Performance." Public Health Nutrition, 21(10), 1812-1822.
• Burrows, T. L., Goldman, S., & Pursey, K. (2017). "Nutrition and Cognitive Function in Children." Journal of School Health, 87(12), 935-944.
• Food Research & Action Center (FRAC). (2020). "School Meals: Building Blocks for Healthy Children." Retrieved from http://www.frac.org
• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). (2013). "The Economic Benefits of Healthy School Lunches." Retrieved from http://www.rwjf.org
• U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). (2019). "School Nutrition Dietary Assessment Study." Retrieved from http://www.usda.gov

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