Providing free healthy meals to all children in public and nonprofit private schools regardless of income is a crucial step towards improving the health and wellbeing of children. Studies have shown that serving free meals to all kids improved attendance rates, improved grade promotion, and increased participation in school lunch.
Access and availability to nutritious foods can shape kids’ health, and free school meals can reduce childhood food insecurity and childhood overweight and obesity while improving overall diet quality.
Providing meals to students should be seen as an investment, not a cost, as it fosters social solidarity, reduces bullying, promotes cohesion, and improves student health outcomes