When people say everything is bigger in Texas, they don’t include the quality and nutrition level of school lunches.
Research released recently to coincide with World Food Day (Oct. 16) revealed that Lone Star State ranked 43rd out of 50 states regarding the quality of lunches offered to Texas public school children.
Another way of framing that information is that 42 states in the U.S. (84%) offered their schoolchildren healthier and higher-quality lunches.
Massachusetts, Maine, and Hawaii ranked first, second, and third, respectively, on the list of the healthiest school lunches in the nation. Texas’s next-door neighbor Louisiana came in last place.
The “State of School Lunch Report” by ProCare Therapy identified how U.S. states compare in providing healthy school lunches for students, highlighting the importance of access to healthy food for children’s growth, development, and academic success.
The report’s findings were based on a combination of factors, such as meals served in adherence to federal nutrition guidelines and the rate of Farm to School program participation. This program involves schools buying and featuring locally produced, farm-fresh foods on their menus.
In addition, the report considered the state’s efforts to reduce added sugars and commitment to providing well-balanced, nutritious meals for their students, including fresh fruits and vegetables.
With childhood obesity rates continuing to rise and research showing a strong link between nutrition and academic performance, the importance of healthy school lunches cannot be overstated. ProCare Therapy hopes that the State of School Lunch Report will serve as a catalyst for positive change, inspiring more states to prioritize the health and well-being of their students by offering nutritious, delicious, and satisfying school lunches.
“Access to nutritious and appealing school lunches is crucial for the health and academic success of our nation’s children,” said ProCare Therapy Senior Vice President Stephanie Morris. “This report serves to recognize the states that are leading the charge in offering high-quality, healthy meals to their students, and to encourage other states to follow suit.”
And to call out those states at the bottom who need to improve their school lunch game.
To see the complete 50-state rankings and the most popular school lunch item in every state, read the full report: https://www.procaretherapy.com/blog/the-state-of-school-lunch-report-an-analysis-of-americas-school-lunches/.
Top 10 States with the Healthiest School Lunches:
Massachusetts
Maine
Hawaii
North Dakota
Virginia
Connecticut
Georgia
Vermont
Rhode Island
New Jersey
About ProCare Therapy
ProCare Therapy is one of the country’s top sources of teachers and school-based therapy. We are solely dedicated to making a difference in the life of each child, every day, with every school session. Learn more at www.procaretherapy.com.
Methodology
For the full methodology, please visit the ProCare Therapy School Lunch Report. The five categories and data sources utilized in the index include:
Farm to School Program Participation Rate: Farm to School is a program in the United States through which schools buy and feature locally produced, farm-fresh foods such as dairy, fruits and vegetables, eggs, honey, meat, and beans on their menus. Rate of school district with Farm to School programs retrieved from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). Farm to school (F2S) census.
National School Lunch Program lunches served per 10,000 children: The number of school lunches served per 10,000 students according to the guidelines put out by the USDA National School Lunch Program (NSLP). The nutritional guidelines for the NSLP lunches are based on “Dietary Recommendations for Americans” composed by the Institute of Medicine. The number of NSLP lunches served in FY 2023 was retrieved from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). The number of children in each state was retrieved from the U.S. Census Bureau. “Age and Sex.” American Community Survey, ACS 1-Year Estimates Subject Tables, Table S0101, 2022.
Fruit Consumption: The estimated percentage of children in the state who ate fruit at least once per day in the last week. Retrieved from the National Survey of Children’s Health, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau.
Vegetable Consumption: The estimated percentage of children in the state who ate a vegetable at least once per day in the last week. Retrieved from the National Survey of Children’s Health, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau.
Sugary Drink Consumption: The estimated percentage of children in the state who did not consume sugary drinks in the last week. Retrieved from the National Survey of Children’s Health, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau.
