School Meals for All

California is among the first in the nation to adopt a “universal school meals” program offering breakfast and lunch to all K-12 students at public and charter schools every instructional day, at no charge, regardless of household income. California’s program began in the 2022-23 school year, as federal funding of temporary universal school meals through the Seamless Summer Option and USDA waivers allowing flexibility during the COVID-19 pandemic ended.

The Nutrition Policy Institute was funded to conduct formative, process and impact evaluation through CA SB 170 (2021). The latest news, research briefs and publications from this evaluation are included below.

Research Briefs

• Arizona Food Service Director Survey Findings: Experiences transitioning from meals free of charge for all students
  Esparza E, Zuercher M, Ohri-Vachaspati P, Ritchie L, Gosliner W.  Nutrition Policy Institute, University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources. 28 August 2024.

• School Meals for All in California: Government investments are associated with better meal operations, labor practices, and local food sourcing
  Zuercher M, Orta-Aleman D, Hecht C, Hecht K, Ritchie L, Gosliner W. Nutrition Policy Institute, University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources. May 2024. [Modified from April 2024 version.]

• School Meals for All in California: Strongly supported by parents of all income levels
  Orta-Aleman D, Hecht C, Zuercher M, Hecht K, Cohen JFW, Ritchie L, Gosliner W. Nutrition Policy Institute, University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources. March 2024.

• Impact of Massachusetts’ Healthy School Meals for All
  Nourish Lab, Center for Health Inclusion, Research and Practice, Merrimack College. March 2024.

• The Many Benefits of School Meals for All
  Nutrition Policy Institute, University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources. Arizona State University, College of Health Solutions. University of Connecticut, Rudd Center. Merrimack College. Boise State University, College of Education. 29 August 2023.

• School Meals for All: Farm Fresh Food
  Orta-Aleman D, Chelius C, Bacon K, Hecht C, Hecht K, Zuercher M, Ritchie L, Gosliner W. Nutrition Policy Institute, University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources. 20 June 2023.

• School Meals for All in California: Parents Value School Meals for All and Offer Suggestions to Strengthen Meal Programs
  Hecht C, Hecht K, Zuercher M, Ritchie L, Gosliner W. Research Brief: Nutrition Policy Institute, University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources. 9 May 2023.

• School Meals for All in California: Time to Eat Can Be a Barrier to Full Participation
  Hecht C, Bacon K, Chapman L, Chelius C, Olarte D, Orta-Aleman D, Zuercher M, Hecht K, Ritchie L, Cohen JFW and Gosliner W.  University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Nutrition Policy Institute. 19 April 2023.

• School Meals for All in California: Benefits and Challenges During COVID and Beyond as Reported by School Food Services
  Hecht C, Zuercher M, Hecht K, Gosliner W, Ritchie L. University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Nutrition Policy Institute. 23 August 2022.

Publications

• Perceptions and experiences of Universal School Meals in California: Qualitative insights from school food service directors on participation, stigma, and operational benefits and challenges
  Orta-Aleman D, Zuercher MD, Hecht C, Hecht K, Poudel I, Olarte DA, Patel A, Polacsek M, Ritchie LD, Cohen JFW, Gosliner W. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, published online ahead of print, 8 November 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2024.11.002

• Household Food Insecurity Is Associated with Parental Perceptions of and Student Participation in School Meals
  Zuercher MD, Cohen JFW, Hecht CA, Hecht K, Orta-Aleman D, Olarte DA, Chapman LE, Read M, Ritchie LD, Gosliner W. Nutrients, volume 16, issue 19, article 3375, 4 October 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16193375 
  
  
• Students’ Perspectives on the Benefits and Challenges of Universal School Meals Related to Food Accessibility, Stigma, Participation, and Waste
  Orta-Aleman D, Zuercher MD, Bacon KA, Chelius C, Hecht CE, Hecht K, Ritchie LD, Cohen JFW, Gosliner W. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, published online ahead of print, 18 June 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2024.04.011
  
  

• The Benefits and Challenges of Providing School Meals during the First Year of California’s Universal School Meal Policy as Reported by School Foodservice Professionals
  Zuercher MD, Orta-Aleman D, Cohen JFW, Hecht CA, Hecht K, Polacsek M, Patel AI, Ritchie LD, Gosliner W. Nutrients, volume 16, issue 12, article number 1812, 8 June 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16121812
  

• Universal School Meals During the Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Analysis of Parent Perceptions from California and Maine
  Chapman LE, Gosliner W, Olarte DA, Ritchie LD, Schwartz MB, Polacsek M, Hecht CE, Hecht K, Turner L, Patel AI, Zuercher MD, Read M, Daly TP, Cohen JF. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, volume S2212-2672, issue 24, number 00217-X, published online ahead of print 10 May 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2024.05.005
  
  

• School Meals for All: A Qualitative Study Exploring Lessons in Successful Advocacy and Policymaking in Maine and California
  Hecht AA, Gosliner W, Turner L, Hecht K, Hecht CE, Ritchie LD, Polacsek M, Cohen JF. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, volume S2212-2672, issue 24, number 00206-5, published online ahead of print 6 May 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2024.04.018

• Parent Perceptions of School Meals Influence Student Participation in School Meal Programs
  Zuercher MD, Cohen JFW, Hecht CA, Hecht K, Orta-Aleman D, Patel A, Olarte DA, Chapman LE, Read M, Schwartz MB, Ritchie LD, Gosliner W. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, volume 56, issue 4, pages 230-241, April 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2024.01.003. [Press Release] [Podcast]

• Parent perceptions of school meals and how perceptions differ by race and ethnicity
  Zuercher MD, Cohen JFW, Ohri-Vachaspati P, Hecht CA, Hecht K, Polacsek M, Olarte DA, Read M, Patel AI, Schwartz MB, Chapman LE, Orta-Aleman D, Ritchie LD, Gosliner W. Health Affairs Scholar, Volume 2, Issue 1, 10 January 2024. https://doi.org/10.1093/haschl/qxad092
  
  
• Implementation of Universal School Meals during COVID-19 and beyond: Challenges and Benefits for School Meals Programs in Maine
  Cohen JF, Polacsek M, Hecht CE, Hecht K,Read M, Olarte DA, Patel AI, Schwartz MB, Turner L, Zuercher M, Gosliner W, Ritchie LD. Nutrients, volume 14, issue 19, article 4031, 28 September 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14194031
  
  
• Providing School Meals to All Students Free of Charge During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond: Challenges and Benefits Reported by School Foodservice Professionals in California
  Zuercher MD, Cohen JFW, Hecht CE, Hecht K, Ritchie LD, Gosliner W. Nutrients, volume 14, issue 18, article 3855, 17 September 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14183855

In the News

Zócalo Public Square - Thanks, COVID-19, for Giving Kids Free Lunch - Universal School Meals Help Students, Families, and Schools (18 November 2024) 

Phys.org - Study says parent perceptions of school meals influence student participation in school meal programs (15 April 2024)

Elsevier - Parent Perceptions of School Meals Influence Student Participation in School Meal Programs (15 April 2024)

EurekAlert! - Parent Perceptions of School Meals Influence Student Participation in School Meal Programs (15 April 2024)

Foodservice Director - Many parents say school meals can save them money but still view them as unhealthy, study reveals (29 January 2024)

The New York Times - What if Every Kid Got a Free Lunch? (19 January 2023, print only) 

Los Angeles Times - Gran reto logístico implica los alimentos gratis en las escuelas. ¿Cómo resolverlo? (15 September 2022)

Public Comments and Testimonies

• Testimony - California Universal School Meals Oversight & Proposals
  California State Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Education Finance, 20 March 2024; testimony of Christina Hecht, PhD, University of California Nutrition Policy Institute

More information

Learn more about our national team evaluating universal school meal policies across the nation.

Learn more about which states are implementing universal school meal policies.

For more information about the California Universal School Meals evaluation, please contact Wendi Gosliner (wgosliner@ucanr.edu) or Lorrene Ritchie (lritchie@ucanr.edu).