Universal Free School Meals and School and Student Outcomes: A Systematic Review.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

The White House National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health included expanding free school meals to all students, regardless of income, which has sparked debate in the United States.

Objective

To assess the association between universal free school meals (UFSMs) and school and student outcomes in the United States.

Evidence review

An expert panel-informed protocol was developed to evaluate intervention or cohort studies comparing UFSM programs, such as the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), with non-UFSM programs in US schools from August 2012 (excluding 2020-2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic) in peer-reviewed publications or government reports. Outcomes included meal participation rates, attendance, dietary intake and quality, food waste, econom

SUBMITTER: Spill MK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11316229 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature