Social Determinants of Health: Healthy School Meals for All

The Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) recommends Healthy School Meals for All, a program that augments the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP). NSLP and SBP use household income to determine whether students are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. By contrast, Healthy School Meals for All offers free, nutritious meals (i.e., breakfast, lunch, or both) to all students in a qualifying school, regardless of household income.

The CPSTF recommends Healthy School Meals for All to increase student participation in NSLP and SBP and to reduce school absenteeism. Healthy School Meals for All is expected to advance health equity in the United States by removing barriers to consistent  access to free and healthy foods for students from households with lower incomes.