Opinion: This is a pivotal moment for school meals — and for our children’s health

I visited the Charles Rice Learning Center in 2016 to better understand the critical role of school meals. I sat down for lunch with students at the elementary school, located near the American Heart Association’s Dallas headquarters, and saw firsthand what healthy school meals make possible. The children filled their plates with fruits, vegetables and other healthy options made possible by farm‑to‑school programming and hands‑on nutrition education. Nearly all students qualified for free or reduced‑price meals, yet the school showed how the right policies and investments can help healthy school meals — and the kids who eat them — have what they need to succeed.

Ten years later, as we approach the 80th anniversary of the National School Lunch Act, it is again time to assess what’s working — and what’s at risk — as we look at the future of school meals that serve tens of millions of children across the country daily. School meals do far more than curb hunger — they fuel learning, shape lifelong eating habits and provide a dependable source of nutrition for children from financially struggling families.

What kids eat at school matters — especially now, as school meals sit at the center of a consequential national debate. That debate has sharpened with the release of the Trump administration’s fiscal year 2027 budget request, and with the U.S. Department of Agriculture preparing to advance the next phase of school meal nutrition standards. Together, these developments will help determine not only what foods schools serve, but whether schools have the resources they need to meet those standards. The implications for children’s health and our nation’s future are real.

School meals have steadily improved over many years. Today’s menus offer more vegetables and fruits, emphasize whole grains and align more closely with science-based nutrition guidance. Despite this progress, the administration’s budget request sends mixed signals. It proposes eliminating or reducing key programs that help schools translate nutrition standards into healthy, appealing meals — such as equipment grants to modernize aging kitchens, farm-to-school initiatives that connect cafeterias with local food producers and training, and technical assistance for school nutrition staff.

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These investments are not optional add-ons. They are the backbone of healthy meals, especially as schools nationwide face rising food costs, staffing shortages and outdated infrastructure. Effectively implementing school meals programs requires more than good intentions; it necessitates modern equipment, trained staff and reliable supply chains. Without adequate funding, schools struggle to deliver on their promise to students and families.

At the same time, advances in nutrition science continue to reinforce the importance of healthy eating from an early age. In March, the American Heart Association released updated dietary guidance highlighting the importance of lifelong healthy eating patterns beginning in childhood. The guidance emphasizes foods schools are already working hard to provide — vegetables and fruits, whole grains, low-fat and fat-free dairy, healthy sources of protein and meals with less added sugars, sodium and ultraprocessed foods.

Schools are uniquely positioned to make healthy choices familiar and appealing to children. School meals account for a significant share of the nutrients many students consume each day. When those meals reflect the latest research, they don’t just nourish bodies — they help normalize balanced, enjoyable eating habits that last long after the lunch bell rings.

As the USDA works to update school meal nutrition standards, it must listen to students and families, educators, school nutrition professionals and scientists. Clear, science-based standards can serve as a north star for children’s health, while robust funding, flexibility and support can help schools reach it.

Congress now faces its own defining choices. Lawmakers will decide whether the FY27 federal budget strengthens schools’ ability to provide nutritious meals or shifts more costs onto already overburdened schools and families. These decisions also will inform broader efforts to improve nutrition security through programs including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children.

When I think back to my visit to Charles Rice Learning Center, the stakes become clear. This is the moment to match laudable goals with meaningful investment. By strengthening nutrition standards, protecting critical school meal programs and funding them at levels that reflect real-world costs, Congress and the administration can help ensure the meals children eat every day at school support their health, learning and future success.

Nancy Brown CEO of the American Heart Association.