Kids spend more time at school than any other place outside the home. The National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program feed tens of millions of students everyday, and many students get up to half of their daily calories at school.
In fall 2012, updated nutrition standards for school meals rolled out nationwide. But many schools have been working to provide healthier meals for years. RWJF supports the Healthy Schools Program, which provides assistance to more than 15,000 schools across the country, reaching more than 9 million students, as well as teachers and other school staff.
Schools in Ankeny, Iowa; Hopkins, Minn.; Jackson, Tenn.; Memphis, Tenn.; and Topkea, Kan.; are among those leading the way when it comes to offering healthy school meals. Their stories show that changes can be made even in an era of tight budgets.
RWJF is dedicated to making sure all foods and beverages in school are healthy.
Learn more about the Foundation's strategy
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently updated nutrition standards for school snacks and drinks sold in vending machines, à la carte lines, and school stores. This is the first update to such standards in more than 30 years, and Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, MD, president and CEO of RWJF, called them a "momentous step."
Read the statement
A recent RWJF-funded study links strong nutrition standards for school meals with lower obesity rates, especially among students who were eligible for free and reduced-price lunches. RWJF spoke with the lead study author to learn more.
Read the interview