In the United States. many children receive up to one-half their daily calories from meals served at school. Everyday, millions of children get free or low-cost food through the National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program.

To be reimbursed from the federal government, school meals must meet specific nutritional standards. Currently those standards are rather loose, allowing questionable quality meals for our young people. They certainly deserve much better!

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) asked the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to evaluate current policies and to make recommendations for improvements. This report, School Meals: Building Blocks for Healthy Children is now available. The IOM deserves commendation for the following important changes: