Michigan and Colorado are facing financial challenges in maintaining their universal school meal programs as student participation rates have surged, straining budgets. Michigan Superintendent Michael Rice has urged schools to continue offering free meals despite funding uncertainty, as the state awaits approval of its 2026 school aid budget, while Colorado voters will consider measures to increase funding for the program through higher taxes on high-income earners.

The Little Rock School District's school meal debt reached over $200,000, prompting a community fundraising effort that raised $50,000. School districts are struggling to manage rising student meal debt as the administration's "Big Beautiful Bill" includes significant cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, potentially reducing automatic eligibility for free and reduced-price meals. SNA reports that meal debt averages $537 per child in the US.

A bill in California aims to make the state the first to phase out "particularly harmful" ultra-processed foods from school meals by 2032. Assembly Bill 1264 tasks state scientists with identifying these foods based on links to health issues such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.

The Southington, Conn., school district has launched a summer lunch program at DePaolo Middle School to address rising food insecurity as unpaid meal debt has surged by almost 80% in the past school year. The program, funded by donors and partnerships, provides free lunches to anyone, aiming to destigmatize the need for assistance.

Registered dietitian nutritionists Daniela Novotny, Antonette Hardie and Samantha Coogan weigh in on the health and environmental impacts of veggie versus beef burgers. Veggie burgers, often made from whole foods like beans, nuts, seeds and grains, provide fiber and antioxidants, but packaged versions can be highly processed and lower in protein. Beef burgers offer quality protein and essential nutrients like iron and B12 but can be high in saturated fat. The choice between the two depends on dietary goals, such as reducing saturated fat or increasing iron intake. Environmentally, switching from beef to veggie patties could significantly reduce carbon emissions.

Teenagers with food allergies experience significant social discomfort, particularly those with multiple allergies, according to a study in Pediatric Allergy and Immunology. The study found that 35% of teens with food allergies fear dining with adults other than their parents, and many are anxious about eating at school or camp, highlighting the need for mental health support and coping strategies in allergy management.

Grab the attention of senior leaders by talking about what they value: expertise, clarity and relevance, writes executive coach Joel Garfinkle, who recommends stating your key message up front, providing only essential context and relating your points to strategic objectives. "Senior leaders remember the person who moves the conversation forward, who brings insight rather than noise and delivers the right message at the right moment," Garfinkle notes.