Navy Families See First School Meal Increase in 7 Years

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Monique K. Hilley, Commander, Navy Installations Command Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Students headed back to school at Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDS) Aug. 29 will face a three year phased increase in student meal prices mandated by The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (Public Law 111-296).

Beginning school year 2011-2012, students participating in the DoD Student Meal Program that pay full price for their lunches will begin paying 50 cents more per meal, followed by a 25 cent increase in the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 school years.

The DoD Student Meal Program is an overseas school program authorized under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act. It is a DoD program that follows many of the same regulations and guidelines as schools throughout the United States that participate in USDA's National School Lunch Program. The program provides free and reduced-price meals for students who qualify under federal guidelines.

School food authorities will charge elementary students $2.55 and secondary students $2.70 per meal under the new pricing structure. By fall 2013, elementary students paying full price for a school-provided lunch will be charged $3.05 per lunch and secondary students $3.20.

Households qualifying for the free and reduced meal programs will not be impacted by the meal cost increases as the cost of a reduced-price meal will remain unchanged at 40 cents per meal through school year 2013-2014.

Changes in the DoD Student Meal Program are being phased in over a three year period to bring students healthier food choices, while minimizing the financial impact on families.

"Public law requires a review and adjustment to student meal prices. This law, plus the fact that meal prices have not kept pace with the increased costs to provide meals during the past seven years have led to an increase in prices," said Charles S. Clymer Jr., program manager for Commander, Navy Installations Command's Child and Youth Program. "Just like everything else, the cost of quality food, labor and equipment increase each year, and this increase will help ensure that school food authorities have funding available to support serving nutritious meals to all students."

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, signed into law by President Obama on December 13, 2010, mandates changes to school lunch and breakfast programs nationwide with a focus of improving child nutrition.

"The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act is a significant step forward in our effort to help America's children thrive and grow to be healthy adults," said U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius. "Thanks to the dedication of this Congress and First Lady Michelle Obama, more kids will have access to healthy, balanced, nutritious school lunches. By increasing the number of students eligible to enroll in school meal programs and improving the quality of food served, this legislation simultaneously tackles both hunger and the obesity levels currently affecting too many communities across this nation."

The legislation authorizes funding and sets policy for USDA's core child nutrition programs: the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), the Summer Food Service Program, and the Child and Adult Care Food Program.  The DoD Student Meal Program will remain a subsidized, USDA-approved and nutritious option for Navy families with school-age children.

For more information on DoD meal programs, families are encouraged to contact your local school's Navy Liaison School Officer.