Title: School Lunch Guidelines and Controversy
Headings: School Lunch Guidelines and Controversy
School Lunch Guidelines and Controversy
The School Lunch Guidelines
Funding Considerations
Common Criticisms
Overreach
Meal Appeal
Cost
Sufficient Calorie Content
Options for Schools
Opt-Out
Exemption or Delay

Content: Meals must meet both minimum and maximum calorie requirements for the age group to which they are being served, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) standards. Regular and flavored milk must be nonfat or 1 percent. School districts must create a local wellness policy. A 2016 study of a Washington state school district that was published in JAMA Pediatrics suggests that the updated guidelines are indeed getting schoolchildren to eat healthier. 3 ﻿
The study compared students' lunch buying habits before and after the guidelines were implemented to see if the change in meal composition had an impact. The results showed that the same number of students continued to buy school lunches even once the new lunches had more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. That said, there are conflicting reports that schools in different parts of the nation noticed a drop in sales in their lunchrooms and more food being thrown away after the guidelines were in place. Funding Considerations
Schools must follow the HHFKA standards to receive federal dollars for their lunch programs. While some school districts only receive 1 percent or 2 percent of their lunch budget from the USDA before sales, many districts receive substantially more dollars through the free and reduced lunch program. The free and reduced school meals program reimburses part or all of the cost of school lunch for children from low-income families.