School Meals for All: Findings & Opportunities from California and Maine

Universal school meals, where all students can eat for free, offer an opportunity to dramatically improve food insecurity and diet quality and strengthen regional food systems. Researchers and practitioners working on universal school meals programs in California and Maine will describe their work evaluating and supporting the implementation of free school meals for all and will share research findings. The session will present findings from surveys and interviews with food service directors and parents/guardians in both states, and will highlight ways in which nutrition professionals have successfully supported implementation of universal meals policies.