National School Lunch Program Flashcards, test questions and answers

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What is National School Lunch Program?

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential childcare institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to more than 30 million children each school day. An important goal of the NSLP is to safeguard the health and well-being of the nation’s children by providing nutritionally sound meals in a safe and friendly environment that encourages good eating habits.The NSLP was created in 1946 as part of the National School Lunch Act, signed into law by President Harry Truman. Under this act, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) began providing money, commodities, and other assistance to states and local school districts so they could serve nutritious lunches at reasonable prices for all children attending public schools. The USDA also developed nutritional standards for all foods served under the program that were based on dietary guidelines issued by the Institute of Medicine (IOM). Today, state agencies manage their own school lunch programs using federal funds from USDA as well as funds from their own state governments in order to meet IOM nutrition standards. The meals served must include five components: milk; meat or meat alternate; grains; fruit; and vegetables. Schools may also offer additional food items such as snacks or desserts depending on availability, budget constraints, health concerns related to childhood obesity rates, etc., with any additional items being voluntary but suggested by USDA guidelines depending on age group(s). In addition to providing students with healthy lunches at a discounted price or free if they meet certain criteria set forth by USDA regulations such as income status or SNAP eligibility status , many states use funds received through NSLP towards initiatives like school garden projects which teach kids about nutrition while fostering an interest in healthy lifestyles through hands-on learning experiences outside of classroom instruction time. These activities have been shown to have positive outcomes both inside and outside of school when it comes to increasing access to fresh fruits/vegetables while creating healthier diets among students who participate. Overall, The National School Lunch Program has been incredibly successful since its inception over 70 years ago. It has helped millions upon millions of American children receive nutritious meals during their formative years which are essential for proper growth & development. By continuing efforts like these we can ensure that our future generations remain healthy & active despite any economic challenges that come their way.