In 2019, CSPI and Healthy School Food Maryland, represented by Democracy Forward, brought a case against USDA in federal court in Maryland over a rule that rolled back nutrition standards on whole grains and sodium in school meals. The court struck down the rule on the ground that the USDA failed to provide public notice of its plan to gut the standards.

CSPI advocates for federal policies that protect strong nutrition standards through the NANA Coalition.

CSPI supports state and local campaigns to ensure strong nutrition standards in schools. Check out our toolkit for state and local advocates here.

• 10 Key Findings on the Impact of School Nutrition Programs (Healthy Eating Research)
• Model State School Foods Bill
• Optional Findings and Provisions State School Foods Bill
• Policy Options for Expanding Access to Free Meals
• Factsheet: Messaging Guidance for an Effective school Food Campaign
• Costs and Revenues of the New School Meal Standards (NANA/CSPI)
• Step Up to the Plate for School Meals: American Heart Association
• School Lunches Are Getting Healthier — The Facts (video) (Pew Charitable Trusts)
• How to Support Kids’ Nutrition in Your Child’s School (Pew Charitable Trusts)
• Healthy School Food Standards Make 5 Successes Possible (Pew Charitable Trusts)
• Healthy School Lunches Improve Kids’ Habits (Pew Charitable Trusts)
• Americans' Views on School Food and Child Nutrition (Pew Charitable Trusts)
• Parents Support Healthier School Food Standards (infographic) (Pew Charitable Trusts)
• Child Nutrition: Nourishing Minds and Bodies Curriculum (to access this module, user must create free account on Alliance for a Healthier Generation)
• Resources for Schools to Support Healthy Menu Development

• School Lunch Participation Fact Sheet (CSPI)
• School Lunch Participation Infographic (CSPI)

• Improving the Environmental Impact of the School Meals Programs (fact sheet) (CSPI)
• Cut Waste, Not Nutrition, in School Meals (fact sheet) (CSPI)
• School Food Waste (infographic) (USDA)
• What You Can Do To Help Prevent Wasted Food (USDA)
• Studies on Food Waste (Pew Charitable Trusts)
• Study: “New School Meal Regulations Increase Fruit Consumption and Do Not Increase Total Plate Waste” (Rudd Center)
• Study: “Impact of the New U.S. Department of Agriculture School Meal Standards on Food Selection, Consumption, and Waste” (Harvard School of Public Health)

• Calories in School Lunches (CSPI)
• Calories Before/After the New Standards (CSPI)
• What a Proper Lunch Looks Like (CSPI)
• 850 Calories is Enough (CSPI)

• Infographic: Confused About Salt? (CSPI)
• Fact Sheet on Sodium (CSPI)
• Making Sense of the Science on Sodium (NANA/American Heart Association)
• Lowering Sodium in School Foods (American Heart Association)
• Lower Sodium Products for School Meals (NANA)
• Webinar: Clearing Up Confusion on Sodium (CSPI/CDC/American Heart Association)
• Halt the Salt: From Bland to Brilliant (to access this module, user must create free account on Alliance for a Healthier Generation)

• Whole Grain-Rich Products for School Meals (NANA)

• Reducing Added Sugar in School Foods

• NANA Fact Sheet on USDA Foods
• USDA video on USDA Foods

• Healthy School Meals, Snacks, and Beverages: State and Local Policy Options (CSPI)
• Create a State Plan to Support Healthy School Nutrition Environments (NANA)

• Healthy school meals for all: A toolkit for advocates (CSPI)
• Tips for Parents (CSPI)
• Tips for Educators (CSPI)
• Tips for School Business Officers (CSPI)
• No or Low Cost Policies to Support a Healthy School Nutrition Environment (CSPI)
• Tips for Making Healthy Lunches for Less (CSPI)
• Tips on Getting Kids to Eat Healthier Meals (CSPI)
• Tips for School Food Service Professionals (CSPI)
• Tips for Successfully Transitioning to Healthier Menu Options (CSPI)
• Tips for Serving Whole Grains That Kids Love (or Don’t Even Notice are Whole Grains) (CSPI)
• Tips for Reducing Sodium Without Sacrificing Taste or Participation (CSPI)
• Tips for Reducing Added Sugar While Maintaining Great Taste (CSPI)