Why are American school lunches so unhealthy?

Thanks for the A2A. I've never worked in public education, just attended a public school, but I can tell you right away the answer here: FUNDING. read more

I’m going to note right here, however, that it is possible to make nutritious school lunches on a low budget. I attend an inner-city school in Minneapolis, Minnesota. My middle school food was very poor (see my answer about the content of American school lunches here). However, at the high school I attend, nutritious options are always available. read more

In the news analysis “Why Students Hate School Lunches,” Kate Murphy writes: More than 30 million children trundle through school cafeteria lines every day in the United States and thanks to the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which took effect in 2012, they are no longer served greasy pizza, salty French fries and sauced up chicken wings. read more

1. Nutrient Deficiency. Schools must offer dairy, grains, fruits, and vegetables, but there are no programs to make sure that children are eating them. In many cases, children will skip the healthy choices in favor of added desserts or fried sides. read more