Title: Food Prices Eat Up School Lunch - TIME
Headings: Food Prices Eat Up School Lunch
Food Prices Eat Up School Lunch
Content: U.S. schools served about 5 billion lunches last year with an average price tag of $2.58 per meal. That cost will likely jump $0.30 — or 12% — per meal in the coming year, SNA estimates, or about $1.5 billion nationwide. Most schools already lose money on free or reduced-price lunch and breakfast programs; nearly 18 million students qualify for these meals, which are subsidized by the federal government, but at a rate far below the actual cost of providing the food. To make ends meet, nearly 70% of schools told SNA that they would have to dip into "rainy day" funds, financial reserves that usually go to capital improvements. Some 62% said they are also considering cutting staff. Inflationary prices will also likely affect the foods students find on their lunch trays come September. Because they are subsidized, schools must meet federal nutrition guidelines for what they can offer in cafeterias, such as fresh fruits and vegetables. But in recent years, many schools have worked hard to also include more low-calorie as well as organic and locally grown fare. Those options may disappear as schools struggle to lower their food bills.