Free school lunch is no longer on the menu for many kids. It's one of many strains on cafeterias

School nutrition programs across the country are under financial strain, according to this report from Harvest Public Media. Food prices have risen about 30% since 2020, and kitchen wages have climbed as minimum wages increase. Because school food programs must balance their budgets, directors in places like Austin, Texas say they have trimmed staff and cut back servings of some items. A School Nutrition Association survey found 95% of nutrition leaders worry about their programs' financial sustainability.

A major concern is the Community Eligibility Provision, which lets schools serve free meals to every student. Schools qualify when more than 25% of students take part in federal aid programs such as SNAP, and the maximum reimbursement applies above 62.5%. The article says over 5 million Americans have lost SNAP benefits since last year, and one Illinois director reports a 10% to 15% drop in his numbers over six to seven months. Some districts in Texas, Illinois and Kentucky have already dropped the provision. Austin's food director says 69 of its 105 schools use it and he expects up to 30 more could lose it next school year. Without it, families must file applications, which an advocacy group says can be a barrier because of complexity, language and stigma.

Directors also point to federal rules on sodium, sugar and Buy American sourcing, a push for scratch cooking that older kitchens may not support, and expected guidance favoring more protein. They say they want funding to match these expectations.