Program overview
The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential child-care institutions. Participating schools provide nutritionally balanced meals that meet program requirements.
Meal components
School lunches are planned around fruits, vegetables, grains, meat or meat alternates, and milk. Offer-versus-serve provisions may allow students to decline some components while still selecting a reimbursable meal.
Nondiscrimination
School nutrition programs must operate in accordance with applicable federal civil-rights requirements.