Come one, come all to Cafeteria Circus, a weeklong school lunch celebration hosted by the School Nutrition Association! National School Lunch Week is celebrated every October to raise awareness about the importance of the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the amazing school nutrition staff that create nutritious and delicious dishes for students as part of the program each day.
Cafeteria Circus highlights the fact that school lunches can and should be fun! School lunch isn’t just another mandatory part of a student’s day – it’s an opportunity for school nutrition staff to experiment and be creative, all while cultivating curiosity and awe among the students they serve. 2026 marks the 80th year of the NSLP, and this year’s theme reflects the excitement that this milestone brings.
Have you heard of the National School Lunch Program before? Keep reading to learn more about the program’s history, how it works, and why it’s so important.
Did You Know… The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) was created in 1946 as a way to provide free or low-cost meals to students across the country. The federal government gives participating schools food and money in return for meals they serve, and schools who serve more low-income students receive more assistance.
Did You Know… 1 in 5 children in the United States are food insecure, meaning they don’t have consistent access to enough food. The National School Lunch Program provides a consistent opportunity for students to access substantial, nutritious meals.
Did You Know… About 30 million children participate in the National School Lunch Program every day across the country. In 2025, 1 million of those children were from Ohio!
Did You Know… Children that receive school lunches consume more milk, fruit, and vegetables than their peers who don’t. They also tend to earn higher academic outcomes than non-participating peers.
As this year’s National School Lunch Week comes to an end, we encourage you to learn even more about the National School Lunch Program by visiting the resources below:
FNA-101: National School Lunch Program | Food and Nutrition Administration
Made With School Lunch – School Nutrition Association
Ohio USDA Foods Distribution Program | Ohio Department of Education and Workforce
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