school meals

Cafeteria food service

School meals are food served to students at educational institutions, typically breakfast or lunch provided through government-subsidized programs.

In the U.S., free and reduced school meals are available to low-income families.

The British equivalent is school dinners.

For many children, school meals represent their most reliable nutrition: Half the students depend on school meals.

Opposites
meal source/preparation location

school mealshome cooking

Meals prepared at residence

packed lunch · family meals · takeout · made from scratch · fast food

meal context/setting

school mealsfamily dinner

eating out · holiday meals · Sunday dinner · picnic · fast food

cost and provision structure

school mealsfood insecurity

Uncertain access to adequate meals

going hungry · skipping meals · fasting

Family

school, meals

Familiarity
Top 100,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G