Free School Meals in the US

In the United States, a school food service group said at a US Senate hearing on Wednesday that more poor children should be allowed to eat for free at school and the government should pay higher reimbursement rates for school meals.

Right now, most school breakfasts and lunches are free for really poor children. Those who are slightly richer are offered school breakfasts and lunches at reduced prices. The president of the school meal group, Katie Wilson, wanted the reduced price meals to be turned into free meals as well.

The school meal group also asked for an additional 35 cents reimbursement for each lunch and an extra 20 cents for each breakfast served. They hope that with this reimbursement, the food price increases would be offset so that the school can sell better quality meals which are more value for money.

Source:

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/World/Story/STIStory_346199.html

I think that this is a good move to start the war against childhood hunger. By giving more reimbursement to offset food prices, meals which are of better quality and hopefully more nutritious can be served to hungry children who have no money to spend on food.

In school, meals are extremely important as it gives children energy to get through the school day. If the children have no energy, they will not be able to pay attention in class and their results will suffer. We should not be taking food for granted; if you felt really lethargic, would you be able to concentrate?

Being able to eat more food (nutritious food!) can also make you less prone to illnesses as the body has enough strength to fight the ‘bugs’ off. Poor children in Africa are always hungry and are so thin you can see their bones prominently; they always look tired because they have no energy and some even resort to eating insects.

Some of us don’t even finish our food. That’s how much we people here in Singapore waste food. I’m not talking about those people who leave 1 or 2 grains of rice on their plate; I’m talking about those people who eat a quarter of the food and throw away the rest. Whenever you are thinking of dumping that plate of chicken rice because you are full or something, think of the children in Africa.