Much like books, pencils, and transportation, a nutritious and accessible school meal is an essential school supply. At the National Farm to School Network, we believe that we need a school meal system that serves all students and values the people who get it to the table. School Meals for All (SMFA), also known as Universal School Meals, is a policy tool to permanently provide no-cost school meals to all students regardless of income. When all students are offered a meal at no charge, we ensure they are ready to learn, stigma is reduced in the cafeteria, school meal debt is eliminated and school food becomes more socially and racially just. Currently, eight states have implemented permanent SMFA policies. In these states and over 20 others, grassroots advocacy efforts have energized these conversations.

This resource provides a series of strategies to engage youth in SMFA and farm to school advocacy as well as recommendations to do so in a mutually beneficial and empowering way.