2026 Position Paper: Increase Funds
While school nutrition programs are making significant strides in offering healthier meals, they are severely constrained by insufficient funding, which limits their ability to expand scratch cooking, provide more fresh, local produce, and meet increasing financial pressures from rising food, labor, and equipment costs.
2026 Position Paper: Feasible Standards
Despite the progress in increasing whole foods and reducing ultra-processed foods (UPFs) in school meals, the expansion of scratch cooking and the adoption of new federal nutrition standards face significant barriers, such as inadequate funding, staffing, equipment, and time for proper implementation.
School Nutrition Magazine January/February 2026 – Starting the New Year Strong: Facts & Fresh Ideas
We’re halfway through the school year, but the start of a new calendar year in January always brings its own…
Getting the Facts Straight About School Meals
School meals are one of the most widely discussed—and often misunderstood—parts of public education. Drawing from insights shared by school nutrition leaders across the country, through SNA’s podcast School Food for Thought, we’re exploring different perspectives to set the record straight about what school meals look like today, why they matter and how they support children well beyond the lunch line.
Beyond the Carton: The Contribution of Dairy Foods to Nutritious Diets and School Meals
Dairy milk and foods are nutritional powerhouses, fueling growth and supporting health throughout the human lifespan. As the body of science continues to show the potential role of nutrient-dense dairy foods—specifically milk, cheese and yogurt at all fat levels—in a healthy diet, what remains constant is that these nutrient-rich dairy foods deliver high-quality nutrition to Americans at each stage of life.
Clean Labels 101: A Manufacturer’s View
A look at how manufacturers interpret—and innovate around—the evolving expectations behind “clean labels,” and what those shifts mean for K–12 programs navigating ingredient transparency, wellness trends and operational challenges.