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 Jersey, the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) operates in line with federal guidelines to provide nutritious, 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. Eligibility for free or reduced-price meals is determined by family income levels, which must fall within the limits set by the federal income eligibility guidelines. The program is administered at the state level by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, Division of Food and Nutrition, which works to ensure that schools comply with the federal requirements for meal planning and nutritional standards. The NSLP aims to not only alleviate child hunger but also to promote healthy eating habits and support academic success.