MONTGOMERY, Ala. – To recognize the National School Lunch Program and the 30 million children it serves nationwide each day, Alabama schools will officially recognize National School Lunch Week this month, on October 15-19.
The theme, “Lots 2 Love,” encourages students and school nutrition professionals across America to share what they love most about school lunch programs. National School Lunch Week will emphasize the many healthy foods offered daily in Alabama’s schools.
“School lunches are healthier than ever, with more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and less fat and sodium,” said June Barrett, Child Nutrition Program Coordinator for the Alabama State Department of Education. “National School Lunch Week helps us educate parents and students about the benefits of our lunch program, and the many appealing choices we offer.”
In 2017, over 80,855,058 lunches were served in Alabama, to more than 744,733 children.
The federally-funded National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides nutritionally balanced, healthy meals to students every day.
This program, which has been serving our nation’s children for more than 70 years, requires school meals to meet federal nutrition standards – offering fruits and vegetables every day, serving whole grain-rich foods, and limiting fat, calories, and sodium.
The “Lots 2 Love” Campaign is made possible by the nonprofit School Nutrition Association. Parents and students can follow the fun using the hashtags #NSLW18, #SchoolLunch, and #Lots2Love. Contact your local school system for details on planned activities.
For more information on National School Lunch Week, visit https://schoolnutrition.org/nslw/.
