National School Lunch Program

National School Lunch Program

The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in more than 99,800 public and non-profit private schools across the nation. In 1998, Congress expanded the National School Lunch Program to include reimbursement for snacks served to children after school educational and enrichment programs to include children through 18 years of age.

Nutritional Requirements

School lunches must meet the applicable recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which recommend that no more than 30 percent of calories come from fat and less than 10 percent from saturated fat. Regulations also establish a standard for school lunches to provide one-third of the Recommended Dietary Allowances of protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, calcium and calories. School lunches must meet federal requirements, but decisions about specific foods to serve and their preparation are made locally.