Chances are school cafeterias have changed and improved a lot since you were a kid. Gone are the days of a single bland meal option or unidentifiable square portions of meat and a blob of Jell-O. Today, many school cafeterias now offer a variety of hot, delicious options for lunch and often include vegetarian or gluten-free choices, as well as every-day favorites like sandwiches or a salad bar.

The assortment of choices, combined with new initiatives to make delicious, kid-friendly meals, have made cafeterias the coolest places on many campuses. Plus, parents and teachers are excited kids are eating healthier and trying new foods.

Recipes for Success

This year, October 9-13 is designated as National School Lunch Week, with a theme of “School Lunch: Recipes for Success.” The week acknowledges the importance of a healthy lunch in a child’s life, and the impact cafeteria lunches have both inside and outside of school to feed students’ bodies and fuel their minds.

National School Lunch Week has become a great way for school cafeterias to share stories about what makes their lunch programs special, including their “secret ingredients” for success. President John F. Kennedy created National School Lunch Week in 1962, and schools across the country celebrate by decorating their cafeterias, creating special menus, hosting interactive events and encouraging parents to come to the school to have lunch with their child.

5 Billion Lunches Served

Federal nutrition guidelines and programs for school play a critical role in ensuring all students receive nutritious lunches. The National School Lunch Program serves more than 30 million children every school day — which equals 5 billion lunches annually — and school districts are working to serve more fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and low-fat dairy.

In fact, studies show students who eat lunches from their school cafeteria are more likely to eat fruit, vegetables and dairy, compared to children who bring packed lunches from home, which are more likely to have snacks and drinks high in sugar and fat.

If you have a child who attends school, review the lunch menu together this week and start a conversation about the importance of healthy eating. If you normally pack a lunch for your child, encourage them to eat cafeteria meals this week, and perhaps plan a date to have lunch together in the cafeteria.