We Believe in Healthy School Meals

Every child deserves the opportunity to grow, learn, and thrive at school. As pandemic food aid ends for millions of Californians, SB 348 (Skinner) will ensure that our students are never too hungry to learn, have enough time to eat, and have access to meal options with less added sugar and salt that support their brain development and overall health.

The Problem

Food insecurity remains high among Black, Latino, and Asian-American families. The end of pandemic food assistance has created more hunger among children already experiencing the highest rates of poverty and health inequities. For many of these children, school meals may be the only food they consume in a day. SB 348 curbs hunger by providing access to free school meals on half days.

Nutrition standards guiding added sugar levels in school meals do not currently exist, meaning a lack of safeguards for our children’s health. According to pediatricians and nutritionists, eating foods with lower levels of added sugar and salt is linked with improved classroom performance and overall health. SB 348 protects our children’s health by setting the best standards in the nation for lower added sugar and salt in school meals.

Long lunch lines leave California students with an average of just 15 minutes to eat – with some school districts reporting as little as six minutes. Studies show that when students have more time to eat lunch, they choose more nutritious foods, throw less food away, and experience less hunger. SB 348 aims to identify the best ways to give students adequate time to eat.

Join Us

A coalition of organizations representing doctors, youth and family support services, public health experts, philanthropy, agriculture, food aid distribution, communities of color, social justice, science and research, environmentalists, faith leaders, and legislative champions for children’s health.

"As physicians, we know how important it is for kids to have access to meals that promote their health, development, and education. SB 348 is key to nurturing healthy bodies and strong minds for generations to come."

California Medical Association

"Now that California provides our K-12 students two free meals a day, we want those meals to be healthy. SB 348 will ensure that California’s school meals are nutritious and that our state is a national leader in the fight against diabetes.”

Senator Nancy Skinner

"All children should have adequate time to eat during their busy school days and flexible options for meals during the summer months. Access to food is a basic human right."

California Association of Food Banks

“No child in our great state should ever go hungry. We are proud to support this critical bill to ensure children have access to healthy food."

GRACE/End Child Poverty CA

“Every child should have the same opportunity to learn, but too many families are struggling with the soaring costs of groceries, rent, and utilities. This bill supports learning by offering every child at least two nutritious meals with lower amounts of added sugar."

TomKat Ranch

“Families throughout the Central Valley, many of whom tend to our fruits and vegetables, greatly benefit from school meal programs. It is critical that we continue to strengthen these essential programs, and Senator Skinner’s bill does just that. Sí Se Puede!”

Dolores Huerta Foundation

“By building upon the state’s recent historic investments in universal school meals, kitchen infrastructure, and school food service workforce training, California will move closer to the ultimate goal of supporting all students' health and achievement with fresh and nutritious school meals."

NextGen California

“School meals are a proven way to nourish children’s academic success so they can be healthy, happy and live out their full potential. We commend this important investment in California’s communities and future."

Eat REAL

“SB 348 supports schools in our shared goal of giving all California kids access to better brain fuel through fresh, nutritious meals – a goal that is both achievable and vital for our students’ health and academic success.”

Erin Primer, Food & Nutrition Services Director at San Luis Coastal Unified School District

Latest News

Tap in with the latest on Healthy School Meals For All CA!

Governor Signs Landmark Healthy School Meals for All Legislation

SB 348 Protects Children’s Health, Aligns CA With Pediatrician-Recommended Guidelines for Added Sugar and Salt in School Meals Sacramento – Governor Newsom has added his signature to SB 348 (Skinner), making California the first state in the nation to codify President Joe Biden’s new federal nutrition guidelines aimed at reducing added salt and sugar in school meals. Enshrining […]

Healthy School Meals for All Measure Clears Assembly Human Services Committee

SB 348 Expands Access to Nutritious School Meal Options to Ensure Students Grow, Learn, Thrive Sacramento, CA – The California State Assembly’s Committee on Human Services unanimously approved SB 348 (Skinner) this afternoon, advancing a bill that would protect student health and improve student success by providing more healthy meal options at school. Studies show […]

Pediatricians, Health & Anti-Hunger Advocates Applaud California Senate for Advancing Landmark Bill to Help Students Learn, Grow, Thrive

Pediatricians, Health & Anti-Hunger Advocates Applaud California Senate for Advancing Landmark Bill to Help Students Learn, Grow, Thrive SB 348 Ensures Every California Student Has Access to Two Free, Healthy Meals at School, Including Half-Days Sacramento, CA – California students are one step closer to receiving fresh, nutritious meal options at school now that Senate […]

Opinion: We Need to Keep Free School Meals

Via California Health Report – by Ksenia Glenn When California passed the landmark School Meals for All legislation in 2021, we became the first state in the nation to provide free breakfast and lunch for all K-12 students regardless of income. Since then, 26 states have introduced similar legislation in response to the end of federal pandemic […]

We must continue to improve the quality of school nutrition in California

Via EdSource – Written by Erin Primer & Lena Alsarraf California families straining to stretch their food dollars were dealt a major blow in March when the federal government announced it would end the boost to SNAP benefits (formerly known as food stamps) provided during the Covid-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, the tighter the squeeze on families’ […]

Landmark Proposal to Guarantee Healthy School Meals for All California Students Passes First Assembly Test

SB 348 Puts More Healthy School Meal Options in School Cafeterias, Supports Student Health, and Promotes Academic Success Sacramento, CA – The California State Assembly’s Committee on Education approved SB 348 (Skinner) this morning, advancing a bill that would protect student health and improve student success by providing more healthy meal options at school. This comes […]