The Child Development Impact of School Lunch Programs

Kelcie Fisher

In this study, we examine the importance of a child’s health and nutrition starting with what they eat at school. Children between the ages 12 to 17 years old often rely on school breakfast and lunch programs to fuel their bodies. We will look at different school lunch menus in the United States, which may vary depending on where the school is located, what the budget looks like, and what the population of the school’s district is. The second most important thing a school can offer a child, besides knowledge, is what they provide a child to eat. Each school/facility should focus on the same nutrition goals, no matter the funding or development of the school. There are various benefits school lunch and breakfast programs for a child. These services have the potential to improve a child’s health, help them grow, and teach them fundamentals of nutrition. This study will go into depth about the history of school lunch and recommend changes in what meals schools should provide in order to help a child choose more nutritious options. The method that will go along with this thesis is a research content analysis. Three different school districts will be studied in random states, along with their lunch menus for the week, the nutrition value of the items that week, what a child, ages 12 to 17 years old, should be consuming in a week, and obesity rates in the different districts studied.

• Kelcie Fisher is currently a senior at Lander University. She was given a scholarship opportunity to play soccer for the Lander Women’s Soccer team. She grew up in Virginia Beach, Virginia with three siblings and will return to her home state after graduation. She is sociology major with a minor in sports management.