Families across the U.S. haven’t had to pay for their children’s school lunches since the U.S. Department of Agriculture extended its free meal initiative on Oct. 9 to the end of the 2020-2021 school year. This ensures that children across America have access to nutritious food while the nation heals from the effects of COVID-19.
Some people are advocating for the USDA to continue funding free meals for all students even after the pandemic is over. Edith Zumwalt, director of nutrition services for the Lincoln Public School District, said free student lunches are beneficial for everyone.
“Even if a family has the financial needs to pay for lunches, they can get busy and forget to send money for their child, or they don’t have enough money left in their paycheck for the month,” Zumwalt said.
Natalie Denton, an at-risk interventionist at Shenandoah High School in Shenandoah, Iowa, talked about how students that can’t afford lunch are subject to judgment from other students.
“You know, it’s embarrassing for students that don’t have a lot, so with [free meals] they don’t have to worry about not having food because they don’t have enough money,” Denton said. “I think it’s best to level the playing field, so everyone is on the same page. Everyone gets free lunches so there’s no discrimination amongst the kids.”
Zumwalt said that lunches should continue to be free for all students even after the pandemic. Through school meals, students receive accurate portion sizes that help teach them healthy eating habits.
“[School meals] are an example of what a healthy meal is. A lot of people don’t realize that we serve mainly whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean protein, low-fat milk, and it’s the way students should be eating,” Zumwalt said. “It sets an amazing example for them to learn how to eat right.”
Zumwalt said she believes in “universal free lunches” for all students and schools.
“If we really believe in educating students, then we should feed them so they are prepared to learn,” Zumwalt said. “We provide so much else for them at school, why not provide a meal so they don’t have to worry about their stomachs, they can worry about learning.”
Denton said that the USDA’s decision to expand free lunches for the rest of this school year was a good decision because families have all been affected differently by the pandemic.
“The free lunch this year has lessened stress for parents, especially if they had reduced hours because of COVID, or they lost their job, or you know they are just struggling to put food on the table,” Denton said. “Providing free lunches for students is one less thing families struggling from COVID-19 have to worry about.”
29.6 million students were already receiving free or reduced lunches before USDA’s free meal initiative. In the Lincoln Public School District, 47% of students were a part of the free and reduced lunch program last year, according to Zumwalt.