Newsweek: America’s School Lunch Crisis

By Aliss Higham
Published Aug 10, 2024

During an interview with CNN on July 28, days before being named as Kamala Harris’ running mate, Tim Walz was imagining how his record as Minnesota governor might be portrayed by his political opponents. “What a monster!” he laughed. “Kids are eating and having full bellies so they can go learn.”

Walz, a former high school teacher, was referring to his policy which delivered free breakfast and lunch to students at participating schools in the state – something which is opposed by many on the conservative side. Project 2025’s mandate laments that “federal school meals increasingly resemble entitlement programs.”

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“From a nutrition perspective, it’s withholding nutrients that children need to grow. Over time, this can result in malnourishment, which will have a negative impact on growth and development,” Maya Feller, nutritionist, author and Wellness in the Schools board member, told Newsweek.

Studies have shown that a lack of fulfilling lunches is directly detrimental on a child’s performance in the classroom, inhibiting their ability to learn and take part in classroom activities. Children who benefit from a nutritious, filling lunch have been found to score better in tests and have increased concentration and better behavior.

Hodge said replacement meals ride on the belief that “something is better than nothing,” and while that may be true to an extent, “the negative effects from bullying and shame on mental health might counter some of the benefits provided by having something rather than nothing.”

“A child does not control their family budget or income and is therefore ‘punished’ for factors that are beyond their control,” she said.

‘Trauma That Lasts a Lifetime’

Penalizing children for not being able to afford school lunches leads to “trauma” that lasts into adulthood, Feller and Hodge agreed.

“Children from these households face stigma that leads to bullying both by peers and by the schools, who may discard already served lunches to in-debt students, mark them with stickers, or force them to complete chores,” a 2023 report from the Campaign for Children reads. In Arkansas, where replacement meals are not given, students have the option to work for their meals. George Mason University researchers reported that some students are physically marked—being made to wear or carry a stamp, sticker or note— acutely pointing out their failure to pay for their lunch for all their peers to see.

As previously mentioned, some states have rules in place that bar school staff from identifying and penalizing children based on meal debts. But a child’s peers are not so beholden to the same rules as staff.

“Children are acutely aware of their peers. Everyone sees difference. School mealtime can level the playing field and create community around mealtimes. Everyone has the same offerings and for a moment social hierarchy is removed,” Feller said.

“Using food as punishment for being poor brings socioeconomic into the lunchroom and creates a visual divide for all to see,” Feller continued. “The psychological strain of being punished publicly day after day can have a negative impact on self-esteem and mental health. This type of punishment is abusive and can create trauma that lasts a lifetime.”

Read the full article on Newsweek.com