Unhealthy Eats Spread Widespread
In a significant shift, the proportion of middle-class students enjoying benefits previously reserved for the poor has increased, as a result of the implementation of the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) under the federal Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. This provision allows schools to claim full federal subsidies for providing free lunches to wealthier students if their proportion of eligible low-income pupils qualifies.
However, the federal subsidy covers only 73 percent of the cost of each free lunch, leading schools to cut spending by 25 cents per meal. This has resulted in a decline in the quality of food available in many schools. In fact, in 2023, only 17 percent of schools nationwide offered food made from scratch every day, and only 3 percent of schools exclusively served freshly made food.
Despite these challenges, the number of schools providing free lunches to all students has increased significantly, from 14 percent to 60 percent from 2014 to 2023. This expansion of free school meals has had a notable impact, with the share of American children in the highest income quartile getting free meals surging from 11 percent to 42 percent over the same period.
However, the program's effectiveness in addressing hunger among children is questionable. The proportion of children who skipped meals remained unchanged at 0.8 percent, and the proportion of children "not eating enough" barely declined, from 4.2 percent to 4.1 percent.
One unintended consequence of the extension of free school meals has been the rise in child obesity rates. Between 2014 and 2023, the child obesity rate rose from 17 percent to 22 percent. This increase raises concerns about the nutritional value of the meals being provided.
The decline in food quality is one of several unintended consequences of the extension of free school meals. Another consequence is the impact on school revenues. Revenues per meal declined by 18 cents, leading schools to seek alternative funding sources. In 2024, 90,000 schools received a total of $17 billion in federal aid from the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). Schools can claim an additional $0.59 for feeding each of 8 million children who opt to purchase school-made lunches at uncapped prices.
A Deloitte survey provides some insight into the impact of this change on families. According to the survey, 42 percent of parents make and pack lunch, with 68 percent saying their kids are more likely to eat and less likely to waste food brought from home.
The expansion of free school meals is a complex issue with both positive and negative impacts. As we continue to navigate this landscape, it is crucial to consider the long-term effects on the health and well-being of our children.
Source: Ray Domanico, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, published in the journal.
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