Schools follow the USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans for meals, beverages, and snacks that are served or sold in public schools. School nutrition departments follow food safety and nutrition guidelines.  Public school lunch programs work hard to provide nourishing, appealing, and delicious meals. However, charter schools and other education programs are not required to follow the same guidelines. 

In 2012, the Hunger-Free Kids Act allowed the USDA to make school lunch reforms.  Child nutrition departments are required to include more vegetables, fruits, and whole grains while decreasing the amounts of trans fats and sodium. (Center for Science in the Public Interest- School Meals).

Participation in school meals includes several benefits for children as many students receive the majority of their meals from school. Children who eat breakfast at school are shown to visit the school nurse less often and have better attention spans.  A balanced diet improves a child’s all-around health.  The CDC states that a poor diet increases the chance of obesity and possibly impede brain growth. (K12 Academics Article)