Celebrate National School Lunch Week, October 10-14, 2022
Michigan Department of Education Press Release LANSING – The week of October 10-14, 2022 is National School Lunch Week and Governor Gretchen Whitmer has declared it National School Lunch Week in Michigan, as well. The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) asks school districts, educators, and students statewide to join in celebrating the importance of healthy meals for students.
For over 75 years, the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) has served healthy meals and promoted nutrition education with students in Michigan schools. In School Year 2021-2022, Michigan school nutrition professionals served more than 204 million meals and over 64% of the schools purchased local foods.
School lunches offer students fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and milk and meet federal nutrition standards that limit saturated fat, calories, and sodium. Since the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010, school meals have gotten more nutritious, according to the School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study.
School meals provide nutritious meals and support Goal 3 of Michigan’s Strategic Education Plan to improve the health, safety, and wellness of all learners. Meals are made available at free and reduced price for those who qualify.
This year’s theme, “Peace, Love & School Lunch!”, puts the spotlight on the importance of a healthy school lunch in a child’s life and brings us together in promoting the positive impact that lunch has inside and outside the classroom.
Public, private, and charter schools may all participate in the National School Lunch Program to serve breakfast, lunch, and afterschool snacks to their students.
For more information about NSLP in Michigan, please visit the School Nutrition Programs website.
