Essay
Free school lunches for all has helped students' health increase. It ensures that students don’t lack nutrition and makes sure that students don’t develop food insecurity. Kids who eat school lunch consume more whole grains, milk, fruits, and vegetables which helps the students' diets. One study even concluded that hospital admissions decreased among low income families.
A major problem with having free school lunches and breakfasts is that it costs the school and taxpayers more money to afford the meals. Minnesota saw costs rising soon after the law was implemented. Lawmakers opposed the bill because it wasn’t fair to subsidize meals from students who could afford them.
Improved test scores are another benefit to free school meals. Researchers in New York found “statistically significant” increases in reading and math scores. “A study out of California last year found that increasing the nutritional value of school meals can lead to modest gains in test scores.” Teachers report that students are much more ready to learn after eating a healthy breakfast. Free school meals can help curb hunger and increase performance in classes.
Having free school meals has been proven to reduce discipline and improve attendence. In general, free school meals improves school climate and reduces the stigma for low income families.
Kids who are hungry have a higher chance of acting up in class. Not only this but removing the label of poor kids acan change staff perceptions, leading to less suspensions.
October 17, 2023 Priscilla Blossom @ yahoo!life. “Food Science & Human Nutrition.” What Are the Benefits of Free School Meals? Here’s What the Research Says. | Food Science & Human Nutrition | UIUC, 17 Oct. 2023, fshn.illinois.edu/news/what-are-benefits-free-school-meals-heres-what-research-says.
Shockman, Elizabeth. “Minnesota’s Push for Free School Meals Proves Popular, but Costs Are Climbing .” MPR News, MPR News, 20 Dec. 2023, www.mprnews.org/story/2023/12/20/minnesotas-push-for-free-school-meals-proves-popular-but-costs-are-climbing.
