The antihunger Food Research and Action Center says recent declines in the number of children in the school lunch program is due to demographics and not changes in the menus to cut down on fat, salt and sugar. FRAC says the shifts in participation began a decade ago, well before schools were told to serve more fruits, vegetables and whole grains. The new rules took effect in the 2012-13 school year. School lunch participation peaked at 31.8 million students in 2010-11 and was 30.3 million students in 2013-14, down 5 percent.
FRAC says its analysis found that the number of children qualifying for free and reduced-price lunches climbed because of the 2008-09 recession and the slow economic recovery. Schools raised the price of full-cost meals in the 2011-12 school year, which resulted in fewer sales to children from more affluent families. “Finally, competitive foods – foods sold outside the school meal program as a la carte items in the cafeteria, in vending machines or in school stores – may finally be living up to their name” by cutting into lunch sales, said FRAC.
Congress is due to reauthorize child nutrition programs, including school lunch, this year. FRAC suggested four steps to increase participation among students who pay for their meals. They include allowing school districts to find ways to avoid raising the price of meals and providing expert advice to schools struggling to provide more nutritious meals.