End of free school meal program led to increased stress and hunger, poorer diets and reduced focus, say teachers
How did students' diets and behavior change after the expiration of a pandemic-era universal free school meal program in 2022? Researchers asked teachers for their observations of the impact on students and found that teachers perceived more student hunger and stress, increased consumption of junk food and reduced focus in the classroom among the negative outcomes.
After the free school meal program ended in 2022, students' diets and behavior changed negatively, according to teachers. Researchers asked 25 teachers in the Anchorage School District in Alaska to compare the 2021-2022 school year, when the universal meal program was in effect, with the 2022-2023 school year after the program ended.
The universal free meal program removed a worry from the school day, but when it ended, that worry returned and teachers observed its effects in their classrooms. Teachers noticed more student hunger and stress, increased consumption of junk food, and reduced focus in the classroom after the program's expiration. They also reported lower meal participation, more consumption of sugary and ultra-processed foods, and greater provision of food by teachers, as universal meals reduced stress but increased food waste.
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