One of the biggest ongoing debates revolving around education is that should kids get free lunch? Well, the answer is yes. There are many reasons why, but ultimately it is immensely beneficial to the student. With the rise of child poverty, inflation, and general tribulations the economy is undergoing, it is essential that a child is ensured one meal a day. Free lunches (and breakfasts) are crucial to a student’s success if they face food insecurity. While congress did not include free meals in their budget plans for 2025, Littleton Highschool and other schools in Colorado give free lunches to all kids, regardless of income level .
The Reasons Stated As To Why Kids Shouldn’t Get Free Lunch
Many of the detractors for why kids shouldn’t have free lunch are that it’s expensive and why should well off kids get free lunch? Well, if a kid is mandated to be somewhere, they should not have to worry about whether they can eat or not. While free lunches do require significant funding behind the scenes from USDA and and at the state level, allocating spending to children’s needs is most definitely one of the better ways the government spends its money. In Colorado at least, there was a recent ballot measure that limited income tax deductions for Colorado households making 300,000 or more a year to subsidize the program. People who have that much money per year are still required to be productive members of society, and ensuring kids get free lunch is per the course, and it’s most likely these taxpayers have a kid or know somebody who gets free lunches. Free lunch is an important feature of schooling that deserves to be protected
How Do Kids Benefit From Free Lunch?
Kids benefit from free lunches in numerous ways. Kids get balanced meals that as a result, will increase productivity, get higher test scores and a better performance in school. Kids getting nourished is crucial to their education, and kids who face insecurity or other financial problems should not essentially be punished for not being able to keep up with their peers due to a lack of food. If kids do not get food, they are more likely to skip food and have behavior problems. The benefits of free lunch are immense, and making the free lunch program universal regardless of income levels, removes stigma from receiving lunch and helps out the kids who may need free lunch, but don’t qualify because of current income levels.
If one is to raise a healthy and worthwhile generation, that generation needs to be fed. While free lunches are expensive, the productivity from all the kids who can now finally focus in class and have the energy throughout the day that they need, makes it worth it. Nine states so far have universal free lunch, and while there have been federal cuts to SNAP, cancelled the Local Food for Schools Program, and other initiatives that exacerbate food insecurity, hopefully more states will join in on universal free lunches (and breakfasts!), as the performance made by properly fueled students makes it worth it.
