History of School Lunch Programs

School lunch programs began in the 1930’s as a way to provide food for low-income families and to help dispose of surplus agriculture. “From the outset, they had two purposes: to help dispose of surplus agricultural commodities owned by the government as a result of price-support agreement with farmers , and to help prevent nutritional deficiencies among low-income schoolchildren” (anonymous, 2011). In the 1980's school populations were growing and schools were not able to keep up with school lunches. Schools turned to outside vendors to provide meals and additional income and pizza and soft drink companies led the way. “By the 1990's fizzy sugary drinks had replaced milk and pizza was the favorite meal” (anonymous, 2011).Over the last 10 years parents, educators, and doctors have become alarmed at the increasing rate of childhood, adolescent and adult obesity. These reformers called for an end to vending machines and fast food and have suggested ways to reconnect children to food by gardening, lunch prep, and cooking.

from: http://www.drsoram.com/2010/06/solving-the-problem-of-childhood-obesity-within-a-generation/

References:

School Lunch. (n.d.). The FOOD Museum : What's New. Retrieved June 6, 2011,

from http://www.foodmuseum.com/exhbitschoollunch.html