The 2025\u20132030 Dietary Guidelines urge Americans to reduce consumption of highly processed foods, a goal that may challenge public schools struggling to balance nutrition and cost.The School Nutrition Association reports that most meal programs operate on an average of $4.70 per student, leaving little room for fresh, scratch-cooked meals without additional funding.Despite clear benefits \u2014 like improved health and nearly $40 billion in economic returns \u2014 advocates warn that new federal policy changes could limit access to free and reduced-price school meals, unless Congress steps in to expand support.<\/p>\n
In early January, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the\u00a02025-2030 Dietary Guidelines<\/a>. The guidelines called for Americans to reduce their consumption of “highly processed foods,” also known as “ultra-processed” foods. While experts agree that cutting back on these foods (which often include\u00a0chemicals and preservatives<\/a>) can be beneficial, one group that is likely to struggle with this shift is America’s public school children.\n<\/p>\n Just days before the new Dietary Guidelines were released, the School Nutrition Association (SNA)\u00a0published its own report<\/a>, noting that while “School nutrition professionals have been working to expand scratch cooking and reduce reliance on ultra-processed foods,” many administrators believe they lack the funding or resources to make meaningful change. The association explained that public school meal programs have long operated under extremely tight budgets, relying on an average of $4.70 per meal \u2014 “less than the average price of a latte,” as the association added. That figure covers food, labor, and equipment.\n<\/p>\n “School meals support academic achievement, student health, and obesity prevention by improving children’s diets and combating hunger,” the report explained. “Offering free meals to all students through Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) cuts through red tape and ensures all children are nourished for success, without stigma.”\u00a0\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n