Introduction
Although schools’ primary aim is to educate children, they are uniquely positioned to help families. Schools possess the ability to help students and address a variety of issues they face, including food poverty. Providing pupils with free meals promotes uniformity in an institution and ensures students are focused on academic achievement rather than dropping out to fend for themselves. As food poverty remains a pervasive problem in the United States, I hope free meals and food provision become a standard in all schools nationwide.
A Step Towards Equity
Providing free school meals for children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds is a step towards equity. Back in our school, some parents failed to pay for the cafeteria and could not regularly provide their children with packed lunches. The absence of students who did not have lunch or snacks from the dining hall was evident.
I had a friend whose family was not financially stable, and people in our friend group regularly shared our meals with them. As the human brain needs sustenance to function, students who do not receive proper nutrition lack focus and are more likely to underperform than their peers (Cohen et al. 911). My friend’s mood and performance significantly changed when our school introduced a free meal program. The program ensured all students felt equal and could focus on their studies.
Creating Universality in Schools
Free meal initiatives foster universality in schools, ensuring students do not suffer embarrassment or discrimination. Schools willing to provide free meals to all students address the divide between students who can pay for meals and those who can not. Although free meal programs are traditionally associated with low income, this link is eroded if all students receive the same meal (Fleischhacker and Campbell 893).
After initiating a free meal program in my school, I noted that more students were at the dining hall during lunch. My friend, who experienced food insecurity, emphasized that the program made them feel more included and not ashamed of their situation. Furthermore, camaraderie was created as we were offered the same menu and enjoyed or complained about the same foods. The menu was based on student preferences, and we all contributed to its creation via surveys, further promoting universality in the school.
Addressing Obesity
The problem of obesity and unhealthy diet choices can be addressed by introducing free meals in schools. I have witnessed many of my peers struggling with obesity because of their diet. A neighbor once shared that they are forced to eat unhealthily because they cannot afford healthier foods.
The price and availability of fast food substantially impact people’s health and well-being. The free meals introduced in our school were very healthy and delicious. Many students, including myself, were surprised to learn that healthy meals can be more appealing than unhealthy snacks.
After the program’s introduction, some students noted that they were feeling better and shared the news of their weight loss. I felt energized after our school lunches and became interested in learning how to cook similar recipes. In my opinion, free meal initiatives that offer healthy and nutritious options can positively impact the problem of obesity and introduce many people to a healthier lifestyle.
Promotion of Diet Flexibility
With a free food program offered in schools, students have the advantage of an expanded menu and are introduced to various foods. A poor diet consisting of the same food items is critical, as children require various nutrients for their development. As a volunteer working with underprivileged children, I met kids who ate the same thing daily, as their parents could not afford to buy anything else.
The organization I worked for provided children with meals during the summer holidays, and many of them saw fruits like peaches and cherries for the first time in their lives. This experience showed me that these children could benefit from the free meal program at my school, as it could provide them with different foods and was designed with input from medical professionals. Furthermore, our tastes in food form early in life, and it is crucial to ensure each child experiences new foods, as the childhood experience with food impacts us in adulthood.
School Functionality and Reputation Enhancement
Furthermore, image and reputation should be considered as schools today struggle for funding. Initiatives that help students get free meals and, by extension, improve their academic outcomes promote the functioning of the school and its prestige. In particular, parents appreciate the school’s efforts in creating an environment conducive to their children (Cohen et al., 911). In our school, the initiative significantly improved the functionality as students engaged more academically and with teachers and peers.
I noted that the school rose in the state’s ranking of best schools, and new affiliations with colleges and universities were fostered. Furthermore, many of my friends who go to other schools said that the program is highly debated, and some students ask for it to be implemented there. This fosters an additional sense of pride in the school, reflecting my father’s favorite saying: “A meal shared makes the community stronger and company worthwhile.”
Community Building
Furthermore, free school meals can create opportunities for the local community, including farmers and vendors. Parents, local businesses, and suppliers sponsor our school’s program. With this, most vendors and farmers have grown their companies and engaged in other community services. I heard some of the suppliers say that they have been able to improve their lives because of the program, as it has given them a new stable source of income. Thus, the market exists in every town to provide schools with products through similar programs (Kirksey and Gottfried 321).
A community group has also been formed to help such vendors and farmers manage their businesses and engage in more effective and modern forms of agriculture. Recently, a new tradition was established in the school, with a fair being held at the end of the school year, with all vendors invited to sell their products. Although I could not attend, the first fair became the talk of the town and brought the community closer.
Supporting Parents
Free school meals help support parents, letting them focus on other commitments and alleviating their financial strain. My parents noted that they could put some money away and use it toward paying the bills and my college fund. As I relied less on my parents for lunch money, I gained independence from them, which we all appreciate. Moreover, my friend stated that their relationship with their mother improved as there was no food-related awkwardness between them due to her inability to pay for their lunches.
Conclusion
All schools should offer students free lunches to ensure they receive healthy and nutritious meals. Free school meals benefit the students, the parents, the school, and the community. Students’ health and academic performance can be improved by access to free meals in schools, while parents can benefit from alleviated financial strain. Furthermore, the reputation of any school can be enhanced through participation in free meal programs, with the community coming together to provide financial support or products.
Works Cited
Cohen, Juliana F., et al. âUniversal School Meals and Associations with Student Participation, Attendance, Academic Performance, Diet Quality, Food Security, and Body Mass Index: A Systematic Review.â Nutrients, vol. 13, no. 3, 2021, p. 911.
Fleischhacker, Sheila, and Elizabeth Campbell. âEnsuring Equitable Access to School Meals.â Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, vol. 120, no. 5, 2020, p. 893.
Kirksey, J. Jacob, and Michael A. Gottfried. âThe Effect of Servingâ Breakfast after-the-Bellâ Meals on School Absenteeism: Comparing Results from Regression Discontinuity Designs.â Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, vol. 43, no. 2, 2021, pp. 305â328.