The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is one of the most commonly used nutritional support programs within the United States and its territories. The program was originally established under the National School Lunch Act of 1946 and has grown and evolved ever since. The program is designed to provide nutritionally balanced, free or affordable meals to children each school day. All children who attend a participating school (i.e., a public or nonprofit private school or public or nonprofit private residential child care institution) are eligible to participate in the NSLP and receive a subsidized meal. Children from families that are either poor or near poor qualify to receive their lunch for free or at a significantly reduced price.

The program is jointly administered by federal and ...