School Lunches, Academic
Performance,
and
The National School Lunch Program
(NSLP)
Nick Cenname
1940s-Present
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•
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1946- National School Lunch Program
Other programs
Expansion
Falling Short
Nutrition and Academic Performance
1. Numerous research studies
2. Effective fighting force?
3. Why do we continue to feed children
inadequate food if we know that it will
hinder their ability to perform well in school?
4. Early years could be most important
Long Version
Starts Here
Quotes
• “For one thing, as nutritionists and parents know all
too well, it is difficult, if not impossible, to convince
people-whether children or adults-to eat what is good
for them, rather than what tastes good.”
• “Research shows that 40% of all cancer is diet related”
• “Studies conducted by Harvard University and
Massachusetts General Hospital show that children
perform better on standardized tests, exhibit less
hyperactivity, and generally behave better than kids
who skip breakfast.”
1700s
1. Europe leads the way
2. Big difference between children
3. Private charities
1880-1920s
(Progressive Era)
1. Emphasis on “scientific nutrition”
2. New England Kitchen and Penny-Lunch
Program
3. Books
4. ideal soldiers?
5. Educate and feed
6. 13 states and D.C.
1930s
Depression Era
1. Not a shortage of food
2. The responsibility falls on community
3. Agricultural Adjustment Act (1935)
1940s
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
States and nutritionists
Soldier problem; again!
RDAs
Excess food to troops
Where are the women?
Who got the lunches?
1946
National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
1.
2.
3.
4.
Truman
Purpose
The “real” reason
Where is the money?
Question
• Should the federal government be responsible
for feeding students?
1950s and 60s
1. SOCIALISM! Ahhhhhhhhh
1. Fascism more like it
2.
3.
4.
5.
Handouts will “crush moral”
Milk Program
Child Nutrition Act
Pilot Breakfast Program
70s,80s
1. Nixon does something good?
2. Vending machines! Worse than socialism!
90s, present
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Nobody following the rules
Billions of dollars
Fast-Food is in!
USDA can’t follow…it’s own rules
Do you eat breakfast?
Save here…pay there
Causing illnesses? Who knows?
Sources
• Levine, Susan. “School Lunch Politics.” Princeton, New Jersey. Princeton
University Press (2008)
• Cooper, Ann. Holmes, Lisa M. “Lunch Lessons”. New York, NY.
HarperCollins (2006)
• Schlosser, Eric. “Fast Food Nation”. New York, NY. HarperCollins (2002)