Albuquerque Public Schools
History of School Lunch Programs
Read about the history of school lunch programs in the U.S.
About School Lunch Programs
There have been school lunch programs in the United States for well over 100 years, beginning with state initiatives in the late 1800's. The earliest federal aid came out of the New Deal era in the 1930's. The National School Lunch Act was approved in 1946 and provided funding and nutritional guidelines for school lunch programs.
The Child Nutrition Act of 1966
The Child Nutrition Act of 1966 was passed to extend, expand, and strengthen the National School Lunch Program. "Under the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture as a measure to safeguard the health and well-being of the Nation's children, and to encourage the domestic consumption of agricultural and other foods, by assisting States, through grants-in-aid and other means, to more effectively meet the nutritional needs of our children."
The School Breakfast Program
The School Breakfast program was introduced as a pilot project in 1966 and was made permanent in 1975. In 1998, Congress expanded the National School Lunch Program to include reimbursement for snacks served to children in after school educational and enrichment programs. As well as to include children through 18 years of age.
National School Lunch Program
For a complete history of the National School Lunch Program to 1971, read the National School Lunch Program Background and Development by Gordon W. Gunderson.