The debate around free lunch in schools is an important one. On the one hand, some argue that providing free lunch is unnecessary and might be a target of discrimination among students who rely on it. On the other hand, others feel that giving free lunch is a fundamental right and that it is essential for students to have access to healthy meals during the school day, regardless of whether some students already have access. But on the other hand, this blog post will explore the benefits of free lunch in school.
What are the Benefits of Eating Lunch in School?
According to the Food Research and Action Center, “School lunch is critical to student health and well-being, especially for low-income students—and ensures that students have the nutrition they need throughout the day to learn. Research shows that receiving free or reduced-price school lunches reduces food insecurity, obesity rates, and poor health.” Students who skip out on lunch or don’t have access to healthy, nutritious lunches run the risk of not meeting their daily calorie intake.
Students who don’t have lunch could also be prone to not having breakfast, which is unsuitable for growing young bodies. Children need to eat balanced diets for their strength and keep their minds sharp. If students actively miss lunch, it will affect their studies since they won’t have the energy to function fully in class. Ensuring students have access to lunch is important so they stay alert throughout the day. It’s the same with providing younger kids snacks throughout the day since they burn through energy.
Why Should Schools Offer Free Lunch in Schools?
There are several reasons why schools should offer free lunches. First, it would help low-income families ensure their children are fed and receive the proper meals they need to succeed in their environment. All students should be allowed to complete their assignments and receive a quality education.
According to the No Kid Hungry campaign, about 18 million children in the United States live in households that lack the resources to get enough nutritious food. Free school lunches would give these children the nourishment they need to grow and learn. Access to good quality food and a safe place to live is necessary for children to be able to focus on their studies, or a good percentage of students will eventually drop out to try to find other ways to support their families.
Second, free lunch in schools would improve academic performance. Studies have shown that hungry children have difficulty concentrating and perform worse on tests than their well-fed peers. Third, free lunch in schools would improve attendance and reduce absenteeism. Again, hunger is a significant barrier to learning, and hungry children are more likely to miss school and more concerned about survival than learning.
Finally, free school lunches would promote physical activity and healthy eating habits. With childhood obesity rates on the rise, schools need to do everything they can to encourage healthy lifestyles. Free school lunch is one way to accomplish this goal because it allows schools to take the reigns and introduce yummy and delicious foods to their students. In conclusion, there are many reasons why schools should offer free food. Free lunch reduces hunger, improves academic performance, increases attendance, and promotes physical activity and healthy eating habits. All of these factors make free food a worthwhile investment for schools.
How Can Schools Keep Offering Free Lunch Throughout the Summer?
As the summertime approaches, many students look forward to free lunches at school. However, once the school year ends, so does the free lunch program; This can be a struggle for low-income families who rely on free lunches to help feed their children during the summer months.
Luckily, there are a few ways that schools can keep offering free food throughout the summer. One option is to partner with local businesses and organizations that can donate food or funds to support a summer lunch program. Another option is to apply for grants to help cover the costs of providing free meals throughout the summer through pop-up spots. Schools can also take advantage of running food drives where families can take daily necessities they’ll need throughout each month, such as butter, canned goods, fruits, veggies, and more.
By taking advantage of these opportunities, schools can ensure that no child goes hungry during the summer months and keep offering free food in schools.
How Can Schools Make School Lunches More Desirable to Students?
Schools can make School lunches more desirable to students by offering a variety of healthy, delicious options that are both nutritious and appealing. For example, schools can provide veggie-packed pizza rolls, egg muffins, chicken nuggets, pizza kebabs, homemade “Uncrustables,” and cheesy spinach dishes.
Additionally, they can offer bagels with cream cheese, Italian pasta salad, pita bread with hummus, and smooth and creamy classic dips. Schools can also provide California roll-in jars, spicy peanut butter, pork wraps, and turkey BLT sandwiches for teens. Other lunch ideas include taco salad bento lunch for kids, rainbow veggie wraps, chicken caprese pasta salad bowls, and garlic hummus. Lastly, schools can provide meat and cheese sammies, the “Hidden Valley Sandwich,” or charcuterie for the school-age set.
By providing a wide range of tasty yet healthy options that appeal to different age groups of students, schools can make school lunches more desirable to students.
Student Hires and Free Lunch
At Student Hires, we believe that all young people deserve the opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the workforce. That’s why we offer free hands-on experiential learning programs led by college students that increase the career readiness of disadvantaged youth in our community. We also ensure that all kids attending our programs are given free snacks and treats to enjoy so they are happy and healthy during the summer programs.
Our programs are designed to provide participants with the skills and experience they need to succeed in today’s competitive job market. In addition, our programs are also flexible so that participants can tailor their experience to their specific interests and goals. By investing in the future of our community’s young people, we can build a stronger and more prosperous future for everyone.
Conclusion
Although the school lunch program has had its share of issues, from funding to nutritional value, it is still an essential part of our public education system. Providing free lunches for students helps ensure that no child goes hungry and allows them to learn about healthy eating habits. So what would you like to see in your school’s cafeteria? Let us know in the comments below.