The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential childcare institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost, or free lunches to children each school day. The NSLP was established under the National School Lunch Act, signed by President Harry Truman in 1946.
In New Hampshire, the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) operates in line with federal guidelines to provide nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children during school days. The program is available in public and nonprofit private schools, as well as residential childcare institutions. The eligibility for free or reduced-price meals is determined by federal income guidelines, and the program is administered at the state level by the New Hampshire Department of Education. The state ensures that schools comply with the nutrition standards set forth by the NSLP, which are based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Funding for the program comes from federal sources, and the state may provide additional resources or regulations to support the program's implementation and reach within New Hampshire.