School Lunch Program USA

The USA has given some of the best schemes for the people in the country. No wonder, that the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is one of the best programs offered for the kids and students in organizations that work based on non-profit, public schools and other residential based child care institutions. So, basically, this program is targeted for the population of kids who are in need and are not able to afford a square meal. This program which was signed into law of USA by the president Harry Truman, was actually established under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act has been successfully in action, since 1946. It is also a well-known fact that this program, after becoming law, has been helping a lot of kids and students for poor or underprivileged families to have nutritious, healthy food at a very low cost or no cost at all.

The statistics about NSLP so far:

Starting from 1946, it is regarded that around 7.1 million children were a part of this program in the initial year of implementation. Following this, in 1970 around 22.4 million were reached and in 1980, around 26.6 million children were reached. In 1990, 21.1 million children and in 2000, 27.3 million children were benefitted from this program. As per recent statistics in 2016, around 30 million children have been reached through this program in the country.

Therefore, with this being said, there are certain facts and information about this information, that not only everyone in the USA, but also people from around the world should know to understand the effective planning behind the implementation of such a program. Some of these facts are listed here –

NSLP currently administered by FNS of USDA:

This program is currently supervised by the United States Department of Agriculture’s sub-wing called Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) at the national level while the state agencies identify and collaborate with the schools to get this program into action.

Most eligible for children at high school level or below, this School Lunch Program USA works in a way where every school participating in this program is eligible for USDA foods and subsidies, for every single meal provided to the kids. But this is applicable and reimbursable by institutions only when the required norms are met and adhered to.

Eligibility requirements:

On that note, the eligibility criteria that has to follow by institutions are that every institution must serve lunch for children who are eligible under this program based on a nationally preferred meal pattern as suggested by the government at a much affordable cost or free of cost. To be eligible to get such benefits, such children must be enrolled in any of the federally assisted programs or based on the child’s background and status as migrant, runaway, foster, etc. Also, the Head start program which is federally funded by the federal government or state-funded programs like pre-kinder-garden programs has children who are eligible for getting the benefits of this program. One determinant factor important for finding out who is eligible for the program is the family size and household income of the child.

Few other Benefits from NSLP:

• It is likely that certain childcare institutions may provide and conduct after school programs for children. The National

School Lunch Program USA also assists in reimbursement of snacks provided in such fully approved after school programs. This program can be of any category like educational or enhancing the skills, that may benefit the child.

• Apart from this, the program also offers technical and training support for staff in such organizations and institutions to train them on nutritional guidelines and assist them in preparing high-quality food for the children. The training is provided by the nationally approved meal pattern and nutritional requirements.
• Also, there is a library that has a collection of all facts and information related to making people aware of the importance of having a good diet and food patterns that have a direct impact on the health condition. This is accessible to all the organizations and institutions that can avail of their free copies upon request.
• Low income-based schools who are a part of this program is given a further privilege where the children of such schools are introduced to fresh farm vegetables and fruits.

Therefore, these are some of the relevant and important facts & information about the National School Lunch Program in the USA provided by the United States Department of Agriculture.