School meals are the most critical school supply.
Healthy School Meals for All ensures that all students can go through their school day nourished and ready to learn.
Healthy School Meals for ALL
School Meals Terminology
Key Terms
- Healthy School Meals for All (HSMFA): Also known as Universal School Meals, HSMFA means offering free breakfast and lunch to all students, regardless of their household income.
- Food Insecurity: Food Insecurity is defined by the United States Department of Agriculture as the lack of access, at times, to enough food for an active, healthy life.
- Community Eligibility Provision (CEP): Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) allows eligible schools to provide breakfast and lunch to all students at no cost, eliminating the need for burdensome applications and payments.
- Farm to School: Programs connecting schools with local farmers to provide fresh, locally sourced foods in school meals.
The Data on School Meals Access in Virginia
Having a healthy breakfast and lunch can make a significant impact on a child’s health and ability to learn so we strongly support Healthy School Meals for All in Virginia.
Mona Rewari, MD – Pediatrician, VA-AAP
The Impact
Students can’t learn when they’re hungry, or when they’re worried about where their next meal might come from. School meals enable students to grow and learn and provide far-reaching benefits beyond the school day.
Healthy School Meals For All Improves Student Health
Students who eat school lunches tend to take in more whole grains, vegetables, dairy, and fewer refined sugars than those who bring their lunches from home.
Healthy School Meals For All Improves Student Performance
Students who have more nutritious diets tend to perform better and pay more attention in school.
Healthy School Meals For All Reduces Chronic Absenteeism
Eating school meals, particularly school breakfast, is associated with better attendance rates and fewer missed school days.
Healthy School Meals For All is an Investment in our Economy
Advancing no-cost school meals can help strengthen local food and agriculture when ingredients are purchased from Virginia farmers and give students greater access to fresh, local food.
Healthy School Meals for All Supports School Budgets and Food Service Programs:
Because of increases in meal participation, no-cost school meals can strengthen school food service budgets. So rather than tracking down cumbersome debt, school nutrition professionals can focus on what they love the most: preparing healthy, appealing meals for students.
Changes in CEP Participation from SY 19-20 to SY 25-26
Healthy School Meals for All Coalition Members
Join the Coalition
Take ActionShare Your Story
Use Your VoiceSchool Meals in the News
Publications
Publications
Publications
Giving
Invest in Virginia’s Future Today
Each gift you give enables the Voices team to further advocate for young people, conduct vital research, and educate the public.
Explore Ways to Give