Dr. Marlene Schwartz: Changes coming to school meals nationwide

Expert on Camera:

During the pandemic, schools have been allowed to provide free meals for all students, serve grab-and-go meals when schools are closed, and get flexibility on some nutritional requirements. The federal waivers allowing these changes are scheduled to end on June 30, 2022.

Meanwhile, many food banks are shifting priorities toward providing food that is nutritious, rather than just maximizing the quantity of food.

On Wednesday, May 18th, SciLine interviewed:

Dr. Marlene Schwartz is the director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Health and a professor of human development and sciences at the University of Connecticut. She discussed topics including:

• The role of school food in children’s overall diet and health;
• How schools may cope with the expiration of the waivers;
• The growing challenge of food insecurity among U.S. children;
• Research on the effects of making school meals free for all students;
• The effects of efforts to improve nutrition in the charitable food system; and
• The importance of food banks and pantries as a way to reach vulnerable children and families.