NUTRITION

STUDENT NUTRITION PROGRAMS NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM

The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to children each school day. The program was established under the National School Lunch Act, signed by President Harry Truman in 1946 (USDA). http://www.fns.usda.gov/nslp/national-school-lunch-program-nslp

SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM (SBP)

The School Breakfast Program provides cash assistance to states to operate nonprofit breakfast programs in schools and residential childcare institutions. The Food and Nutrition service administers the SBP at the Federal level. State education agencies administer the SBP at the state level, and local school food authorities operate the Program in schools (USDA). http://www.fns.usda.gov/sbp/school-breakfast-program-sbp

AFTERSCHOOL SNACK PROGRAM (ASP)

The National School Lunch Program offers cash reimbursement to help schools serve snacks to children in afterschool activities aimed at promoting the health and well being of children and youth in our communities. A school must provide children with regularly scheduled activities in an organized, structured and supervised environment; include educational or enrichment activities (e.g., mentoring or tutoring programs). Competitive interscholastic sports teams are not an eligible afterschool program. The programs must meet State/local licensing requirements, if available, or State/local health and safety standards. All programs that meet the eligibility requirements can participate in the National School Lunch Program and receive USDA reimbursement for afterschool snacks. http://www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/afterschool-snacks

FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PROGRAM (FFVP)

The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) is a federally assisted program providing free fresh fruits and vegetables to students in participating elementary schools during the school day.

The goal of the FFVP is to improve children’s overall diet and create healthier eating habits to impact their present and future health. The FFVP will help schools create healthier school environments by providing healthier food choices; expanding the variety of fruits and vegetables children experience; and increasing children’s fruit and vegetable consumption (USDA). http://www.fns.usda.gov/ffvp/fresh-fruit-and-vegetable-program

THE SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM (SFSP)

The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) ensures that low-income children continue to receive nutritious meals when school is not in session. This summer, USDA plans to serve more than 200 million free meals to children 18 years and under at approved SFSP sites (USDA). http://www.fns.usda.gov/sfsp/summer-food-service-program