2. What is the
NSLP?
The NSLP, or National School Lunch
Program, is an assisted meal program
that is federally regulated. It operates
mainly in non-profit schools, like public
and non-profit private schools. (NSLP)
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3. So, what does that
mean?
-The NSLP provides money to allow
schools to purchase and re-sell meals that
meet their federal requirements. Lunch
prices vary from school to school, but can
be adjusted to meet different child needs
(NSLP).
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4. Nutritional
Requirements
Meals must meet National Dietary
Guideline standards, which currently can
be summarized into a few easy points:
-Maintain balanced caloric intake
-Focus on nutrient dense food and
beverages, like fruits and vegetables,
whole grains and proteins
-Build dietary habits that lead to healthy
choices in the future.
(Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010)
3
5. How do we
qualify as a
school?
-Simple: Public and non-profit private
schools qualify!
-All you have to do is apply to your state
child nutrition agency, and then work to
start introducing a program (School
Meal Eligibility…).
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6. Why should we
implement this?
There are many benefits to consider implementing
this kind of program, here are the biggest:
-Reduced price meals
-Reimbursement
-Funding
-Healthy Options
5
7. Reduced Price Meals
While all children can participate in the school lunch programs, reduced price
and even free meals become available to those who meet the requirements.
There 4 are multiple types.
Why does this help LOL? Opens up options for a much higher amount of children
to be able to come to Lolita for their education. It also allows for higher
opportunities outside of school, because families can put money saved into other
options and programs (Neuberger).
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8. Reduced Price/ Free
Lunch Categories*
-Categorical Eligibility: children who fall into
different categories, like being in foster care or
migrant families, may receive free meals
-Direct Certification: children living in
households that use food stamps or receive
SNAP benefits qualify for free meals
*(School Meal Eligibility…)
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9. Reduced Price/Free
Lunch Categories Cont.*
-Community Eligibility: Fairly new to the SNLP, allows
schools with high numbers of low income children may
provide free or reduced price meals without paper
application
-Income Based Eligibility: if a child does not fall into one
of the other categories, they may apply based on overall
household income, after an application is filed
*(School Meal Eligibility…)
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10. Reimbursement
Lunches
What are reimbursable lunches?
-Reimbursement lunches are part of the
NSLP program. For every nutritious meal
(one that follows NSLP guidelines), the
NSLP will give money back to the school at
varying rates. The rates can be changed by
how many meals are sold, and at what price
the meals are sold (School Meal
Eligibility…).
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11. Reimbursement Rates
NSLP
Less than
60%
Less than
60% +
6 Cents*
60% or More 60% or More
+ 6 cents*
Price of
Meals to
Children
Free $3.07 $3.13 $3.09 $3.15 $0
Reduced
Price
$2.67 $2.73 $2.69 $2.75 40¢
Paid $0.29 $0.35 $0.31 $0.37 Varies
*Extra 6¢ is available to schools certified to meet updated meal pattern requirements
12. Funding
Through reimbursement lunches, a good
amount of money would be going into LOL
Charter. Being a part of a NSLP , schools also
able to receive “entitlement” foods, under USDA
standards, at a value of 23.25 cents for each
meal served (NSLP).
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13. Introducing Healthy Options
-It is a well known fact that childhood obesity is on the
rise. In the last 30 years alone, the obesity rate has
tripled. While there are many things that contribute to
this epidemic, some major issues we are facing is lack
of knowledge, little access to foods that promote a
healthy, well balanced diet, and lack of consistency of a
full meal (Sections). Introducing a school lunch
program could greatly help kids to learn to make
healthier choices in the future.
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14. Knowledge is Power
-Many children these days are not educated on what really makes up the components of a
healthy meal, and typically some adults. According to the Food and Nutrition Board’s DRI
(dietary reference intake) the nutrient intake for children 9-13 should be as follows (DRIs):
Calcium
(mg/d)
Carbohydrates
(g/d)
Protein
(g/kg/d)
Iron
(mg/d)
Magnesium
(mg/d)
Females
(9-13)
1,100 100 0.75 5.7 200
Males
(9-13)
1.100 100 0.76 5.9 200
15. How does a
NSLP help this?
-While all nutrients will not be covered to
their full values in the NSLP meals, it will
allow students to at least obtain some of the
daily values they may be missing otherwise,
more importantly, have a visual on a daily
basis of what a well balance meal looks like,
and how it can also be good food!
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16. Access to Healthier Options
-Even if a healthy option is brought for lunch, like a whole-grain turkey sandwich,
it is usually easiest to pair it with a bag of chips. According to a study done by
Clemson University students in 2010, the number of snacks and the size of those
snacks consumed by people 2-18 years old has almost doubled in the last 30 years
(Boonsaeng). This study also shows that most unhealthy snacks are consumed
outside of the household.
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17. NSLP Snack Programs
-In addition to the full lunch program, snack programs can also
be implemented, while also having reimbursement rates:
*(School Meal Eligibility…)
Having a snack program involved in the school could also show
students different options when choosing snacks, as well as
providing them for kids who want them.
*
Free 84¢
Reduced Price 42¢
Paid 7¢
18. Hunger in America
One of the main points of School Lunch
Programs is fighting hunger and allowing
children access to food. The organization
Feeding America reports that about 15.3 million
children in the US live in food insecure
households (Feeding America). Of that number,
however, Feeding America also reports that 94%
of those children benefit from the National
School Lunch Program. Why shouldn’t Lolita
Charter help?
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19. Sample Lunch Menu
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
-Turkey
sandwich on
whole grain
bread, with
choice of
lettuce and
tomato.
-Side of peeled
baby carrots
-Blueberries
-Low fat milk,
100% Orange
Juice or water
-Whole grain
pasta with or
without a
meat sauce
-Steamed
broccoli
-Portioned cup
of strawberries
-Low fat milk,
100% Orange
Juice or water
-Pre-packed
grilled chicken
salad
-Whole grain
bread roll
-Orange Slices
-Low fat milk,
100% Orange
Juice or water
-2 FishTacos
on a whole
wheat tortilla
-Seasoned
black beans
-Apple Slices
-Low fat milk,
100% Orange
Juice or water
-Cheese or
Pepperoni
Pizza slice
-Small side
salad with
carrots and
Italian dressing
-Fruit Cocktail
Cup
-Low fat milk,
100% Orange
Juice orWater
20. Sample Lunch Menu Broken Down
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Meat -3 oz. skinless
turkey breast
-2 oz. (per
serving) ground
beef
-3 oz. grilled,
skinless chicken
breast
-1.5 oz. broiled
tilapia (per taco)
-1 oz. pepperoni
(if desired)
Grain -2 slices whole-
grain bread
-1.5 cups whole
grain pasta
-Whole grain
bred roll
-4 ounce whole
wheat tortilla
(per taco)
-Whole grain
pizza crust
Fruit -½ cup blueberries
-1.5 oz. sliced
tomato
-½ cup sliced
strawberries
-½ cup orange
slices
-1.5 cups sliced
apples
-1 cup fruit
cocktail (with
seasonal fruit)
Vegetable -1 cup peeled baby
carrots
-1 oz. lettuce
-½ cup steamed
broccoli
-2 cups chopped
lettuce
-½ cup chopped
carrots
-1 cup seasoned
black beans
-½ cup chopped
lettuce
-¼ cup shredded
carrots
Other -½ cup tomato
paste (in sauce)
-1 packet low fat
Caesar dressing
(oil based)
-1 packet low fat
Italian dressing
21. Variation in the Menu
-The sample menu shows just one week of varied, well balanced
meals. There is plenty of other options to try so students do not
get bored with the typical choices!
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22. In Conclusion….
-Very few reasons to not implement this system
-Creates a well balanced and organized lunch program
-Allows more students to participate in lunch program
-Gives options for well balanced meals
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23. Information Citations
• National School Lunch Program (NSLP). (2015, September 9). Retrieved October 2, 2015. http://www.fns.usda.gov/nslp/national-school-
lunch-program-nslp
• Dietary guidelines for Americans, 2010. (2010). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.
• School Meal Eligibility Food Research &Action Center. (2010). Retrieved October 4, 2015. http://frac.org/federal-foodnutrition-
programs/national-school-lunch-program/
• Neuberger, Z., & Namian,T. (2010). Who Benefits From Federal Subsidies for Free and Reduced PriceSchool Meals? Retrieved October 4,
2015. http://www.cbpp.org/research/who-benefits-from-federal-subsidies-for-free-and-reduced-price-school-meals
• Sections. (2014, May 1). Retrieved October 4, 2015. http://www.obesity.org/resources-for/childhood-overweight.htm
• Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs): EstimatedAverage Requirements. (2011). 1-2. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
http://iom.nationalacademies.org/~/media/Files/Activity Files/Nutrition/DRIs/5_SummaryTableTables 1-4.pdf
• Boonsaeng,T., Carpio, C., Zhen, C. Household Consumption of Snacks at Home and Away from Home. (2010). Retrieved October 2, 2015.
http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/bitstream/61159/2/HCsnacksfinal.pdf
• Child Hunger Fact Sheet. (2015). Retrieved October 4, 2015. http://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/impact-of-hunger/child-
hunger/child-hunger-fact-sheet.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/
