Feeding the Future with Healthy School Lunches

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to children each school day. The program was established under the National School Lunch Act, signed by President Harry Truman in 1946.

Program Fact Sheet

I am a...

State Agency Program Operator Household

What's New?

Tools for Schools: Focusing on Smart Snacks

Community Eligibility Provision

Verification Toolkit

National School Lunch Program Resources

Policy

Legislation Policy Memos Regulations View all

Technical Assistance & Guidance

Fact Sheets FAQs/Q&As Forms Grants Instructions Handbooks Nutrition Education Technical Assistance Training Webinars/Videos View all

Research, Analysis & Background

Data History Research View all

National School Lunch Program

Feeding the Future with Healthy School Lunches

I am a...

What's New?

P-EBT Assistance for Children in Schools School Year 2021-22

USDA/USDC Authorized Labels and Manufacturers

National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program Demonstration Projects to Evaluate Direct Certification with Medicaid

Back to School

CN Flexibilities for Summer 2022 and School Year 2022-23

USDA Recommends Adding Food Safety Items to Your Back-to-School List

Food Safety COVID-19 Resources

NSLP Equipment Assistance Grant State Allocations by Year

Child Nutrition Tables

FY 2022 NSLP Equipment Assistance Grants for School Food Authorities

Added Sugars in School Meals and Competitive Foods

School Meals Programs Comparison Table of Flexibilities for School Year 2021-22 and School Year 2022-23

Local Process: How to Develop, Implement, and Evaluate a Wellness Policy

National School Lunch, Special Milk, and School Breakfast Programs, National Average Payments/Maximum Reimbursement Rates

USDA Announces Increased Funding for School Meals, Child and Adult Care Meals

Support for Child Nutrition Program Operators

Spotlights

Tools for Schools: Focusing on Smart Snacks

Community Eligibility Provision

Verification Toolkit

National School Lunch Program Resources

Policy

Technical Assistance & Guidance

Research, Analysis & Background

National School Lunch Program

Feeding the Future with Healthy School Lunches

I am a...

What's New?

P-EBT Assistance for Children in Schools School Year 2021-22

USDA/USDC Authorized Labels and Manufacturers

National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program Demonstration Projects to Evaluate Direct Certification with Medicaid

Back to School

CN Flexibilities for Summer 2022 and School Year 2022-23

USDA Recommends Adding Food Safety Items to Your Back-to-School List

Food Safety COVID-19 Resources

NSLP Equipment Assistance Grant State Allocations by Year

Child Nutrition Tables

FY 2022 NSLP Equipment Assistance Grants for School Food Authorities

Added Sugars in School Meals and Competitive Foods

School Meals Programs Comparison Table of Flexibilities for School Year 2021-22 and School Year 2022-23

Local Process: How to Develop, Implement, and Evaluate a Wellness Policy

National School Lunch, Special Milk, and School Breakfast Programs, National Average Payments/Maximum Reimbursement Rates

USDA Announces Increased Funding for School Meals, Child and Adult Care Meals

Support for Child Nutrition Program Operators

Spotlights

Tools for Schools: Focusing on Smart Snacks

Community Eligibility Provision

Verification Toolkit

National School Lunch Program Resources

Policy

Technical Assistance & Guidance

Research, Analysis & Background

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