School lunch programs

Definition

The nutritional goal of the school lunch program is to provide children a meal that contains approximately one-third of the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) of nutrients. The lunches provide one-third of the RDA of nutrients when averaged over time -- not at each meal.

Function

Food Sources

Side Effects

Recommendations

Every school lunch program is different. To find out more about the program in your community, request menus from your child’s school. If the meals served are less nutritious than you would like, consider choosing 2 or 3 days a week for your child to participate, and supplement with healthier, home-prepared lunches on the remaining days.

When you are making judgments about the school lunch programs in your community, remember that the healthiest homemade lunches are of little benefit if they aren’t eaten.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).