GUEST BLOG: School Meals Are About More Than Food. They’re About Opportunity.

Jaelene Dismuke, a parent and an American Heart Association Heart Powered advocate, explains why healthy school meals are a critical investment in every child’s health, education and future.

When I was growing up, I didn’t have words like “nutrition insecurity” to describe my family’s experience.

We had some food in the pantry. We got by. From the outside, nothing looked out of the ordinary.

What I understand now is that having food to eat isn’t always the same as having consistent access to nutritious food. And that difference can have a real impact on how kids feel, learn and grow.

For a time, my family lost an income, and the food available to us changed. We still had food to eat, but we couldn’t afford the same kinds of nutritious foods we had before. I didn’t understand what was happening at the time, but I knew something had changed. As a first grader, I remember having less energy. It was harder for me to focus at school. I was irritable, and my teacher noticed enough of a change that she reached out to my mom to make sure everything was okay.

Years later, I began to realize how closely food is connected to the way children feel, learn and grow. I also now understand that my family’s experience was part of a much larger challenge. Nutrition security means having consistent and equitable access to healthy, safe and affordable foods, not simply having enough to eat.

Today, that understanding stays with me for a different reason.

I am a parent. A mom to a brilliant and bright 3-year-old boy

Like so many parents, I spend a lot of time thinking about my son’s future. I think about what he will learn, the friends he will make and the opportunities that he will have. I also think about the foundation we are building for his health.

Part of that foundation is nutrition.

When I make my son’s meals, I try to include as many colors as possible, with vegetables, fruits and whole grains. I am fortunate to be able to make those choices for him. But not every family has the same time, resources or access, and a family’s circumstances can change very quickly.

Here’s why I value what healthy school meals can provide:

For many children, school is one of the most reliable places to receive a nutritious meal — that was the case for me. Those meals do more than satisfy hunger. They provide fuel for math class, energy for gym or P.E. and an opportunity for children to become familiar with foods that can support their health for years to come.

As a former preschool teacher, I saw the connection firsthand. What children eat can affect how they show up throughout the day. Healthy school meals can support children’s health, learning and long-term well-being.

School meals have come a long way since I was a child. Today, they offer more vegetables, fruits and whole grains, with options designed to be both nutritious and appealing to kids. As a parent, I’m encouraged by that progress. It shows what we can accomplish when families, educators, school nutrition professionals and policymakers share a commitment to children’s health.

Here’s our opportunity to continue building on that progress:

Strong nutrition standards can help ensure that children receive meals with more whole grains, vegetables and fruit with fewer added sugars, sodium and saturated fat. But standards alone are not enough. Schools also need the equipment, trained staff, reliable supply chains and funding required to turn nutrition goals into meals children will choose and enjoy.

This is not about placing another responsibility on schools. It is about giving school meal programs the tools they need to succeed.

When I think about school meal policies, I do not begin with regulations or budget lines. I think about parents packing backpacks in the morning. I think about children walking into classrooms and trying to focus. I think about my son, and the assurance every parent deserves that their child can receive a nutritious meal at school, whether it comes from home or the cafeteria.

A healthy school meal is more than food on a tray. It is stability. It is an opportunity to learn. It is part of the foundation children need to grow and thrive.

Every child should have that opportunity.

If you believe healthy school meals should support every child’s health and future, join Heart Powered and speak up for strong school meal programs.