Millions of children across the country are raised by their grandparents, other extended family members, or close family friends when their parents are unable to raise them. These families, known as grandfamilies or kinship families, provide a safe, stable, and loving environment for the children in their care. With the sudden increase in household and caregiving expenses, some grandfamilies and kinship families may face struggles with getting the food they need. The School Nutrition Programs – the School Breakfast Program (SBP) and the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) – provide the nutritious breakfasts and lunches children need during the school day, which can help lower household food costs for caregivers.
What Are School Meals?
All children who attend a school that participates in the School Nutrition Programs can eat school breakfast and lunch. Approximately 29 million children participate in school lunch and 15 million children participate in school breakfast each day. As of July 2025, nine states have passed Healthy School Meals for All policies that offer all children access to school meals at no charge: California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, and Vermont. Schools in the remaining 41 states, and the District of Columbia, must qualify children for free or reduced-price school meals based on household income or participation in eligible assistance programs. Children who are determined eligible for reduced-price meals can be charged a maximum of 30 cents for breakfast and 40 cents for lunch. Children who are not certified for free or reduced-price school meals are placed in the “paid meal” category and are charged full price for their meals. The cost of school breakfast and lunch for a child who does not qualify for free or reduced-price school meals may vary from school to school.
What Are the Benefits of School Meals?
School meals provide the nutritional foundation children need to learn, grow, and thrive. Children who participate in school meals have reduced rates of hunger, improved health outcomes, and better academic success. Additionally, utilizing school meals programs helps stretch a family’s food budget.
School meals must meet specific nutrition standards based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. These requirements ensure that children receive healthy meals of low-fat dairy, lean proteins, whole grains, and colorful fruits and vegetables. As a result, students who eat school meals have a better diet, consuming a greater variety of healthful food, than students who do not participate.