School Meals Initiative

The School Meals Initiative was a government program launched in the 1990s to improve the quality of school lunches in the United States. It aimed to make meals healthier by increasing nutritional standards, such as more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, while reducing unhealthy fats, sodium, and calories. The goal was to promote better eating habits among students, support their health and learning, and align school food offerings with dietary guidelines. Essentially, it was an effort to ensure that school-provided meals were nutritious and contributed positively to students’ overall well-being.