Mark your calendars! National School Lunch Week (NSLW) is taking place October 13–17, 2025. It’s the perfect time to celebrate the power of healthy school meals and the positive impact they have on students. These meals, along with the dedicated team members who create them, play a vital role in helping students thrive inside and outside of school.
Every school day, 30 million students benefit from nutritious meals served through the National School Lunch Program. Across the country, close to 100,000 public schools serve 5 billion lunches each year, helping students cultivate healthy eating habits that support them for a day of learning.
What’s on the Menu?
School lunches are carefully and thoughtfully crafted to meet federal nutrition guidelines. They contain healthy portions designed to fuel students with the energy and nutrients needed to stay focused and active throughout the school day.
Ever wondered what a typical healthy school lunch includes? Here’s an example:
- ¾ cup of vegetables
- A serving of lean protein
- ½ cup of fruit
- Whole grains
- 1% or fat-free milk
Join the Celebration!
National School Lunch Week is a great opportunity for families to celebrate their students school nutrition program. Consider implementing some of these activities into your week:
- Encourage healthy eating habits at home. Talk with your kids about their favorite items from the school lunch menu and why good nutrition matters.
- Explore your school’s lunch program. Visit the cafeteria, meet the nutrition staff, or check out the menus online to see how meals are planned.
- Participate in National School Lunch Week activities. Many schools host events for students like themed meals, and offer fun activities for students to learn about nutrition education during the week.
To learn more about 2025 National School Lunch Week be sure to visit School Nutrition Association (SNA) NSLW page where they share fun resources and activities to celebrate in school and at home.
