Healthier School Meals Are Evidence of the Success of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act

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January 2020

In a new analysis of studies conducted following the implementation of the 2010 Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA), researchers find positive effects on the dietary quality of meals served to school-aged children. Despite concerns over increased plate waste as a result of fruit and vegetable requirements, early regional studies comparing the proportion of foods consumed before and after the HHFKA implementation found that school plate waste did not increase. Producing healthier meals was also not associated with significantly increased costs.