Back to School: The Policy and Practice of School Lunch

Whether they are universally free, served throughout the summer, or meatless, school meals are a perennial hot button issue in New York City and beyond. The stakeholders are passionate and diverse: politicians, unions, superintendents, parents, and of course, the students. As are the opinions about what facet of school meals are the most important: nutrition, sourcing, cost, and, last but not least, whether the food will actually be eaten.

With Child Nutrition Reauthorization, which determines national policy for school food programs, up before Congress, and the second anniversary of The Free Lunch for All Program in NYC, this discussion is as timely as ever. Join Brooklyn Borough President, Eric Adams, Founder of Brigaid, Dan Giusti, author of Free For All, Professor Janet Poppendieck, and former Editor in Chief of Edible Manhattan and Brooklyn, Ariel Lauren Wilson for an honest discussion the issues surrounding school meals in NYC and beyond.

An informal reception with samples of Brigaid’s school lunch menu to follow the conversation.