Happy National School Lunch Week! From October 12–16, 2026, schools and communities across Alabama and the country celebrated the nearly 30 million children who participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). This year’s theme, “Cafeteria Circus: Where Healthy Choices Take Center Stage,” celebrates the creativity, teamwork, and dedication that make school meals possible every day. School lunches provide students with fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and milk while meeting federal nutrition standards, and research shows children are getting some of their healthiest meals at school.
This year’s celebration is especially meaningful as we mark 80 years of the National School Lunch Program. It’s also an opportunity to shine a light on the school nutrition professionals across Alabama who make the program work, from planning menus and preparing meals to creating welcoming cafeterias where students can eat, learn, and connect.
