Jessica Fu

School lunches don’t exactly have the best reputation. But for millions of kids, they are a critical source of nutrition and sometimes the only truly reliable meal of the day. And while there are some subsidy programs in place, many poor families are winding up in ever-deepening cycles of school lunch debt. Why is this happening? And what can we do about it?

Since 2009, enrollees in the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) have been allowed to purchase fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Has the program worked? According to a new study, it has! And the results shed light on how we can uplift the health of children and reverse the onslaught of childhood obesity.