The National School Lunch Program: Background, Trends, and Issues 2024 Edition

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) plays a critical role in supporting the health and nutrition of America’s children, providing subsidized lunches in nearly 100,000 schools and childcare institutions nationwide. Established in 1946, the program has evolved alongside the nation’s understanding of children’s nutritional needs, shifting from addressing undernutrition to promoting balanced diets as rates of childhood obesity rise.

In recent years, changes like the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 and adjustments during the COVID-19 pandemic have refined the program’s focus and funding. Today, the NSLP remains integral to child health and continues to support U.S. agriculture by prioritizing domestically produced foods.